Building the Foundation to Elevate Women’s Cycling
Women’s cycling is enjoying unprecedented attention and appreciation from a growing global audience, with more eyes than ever on its professional races and athletes. Women’s racing is dynamic, tactical, and CLOSE in a way men’s racing isn’t at the moment. However, beneath this visible success lies a critical vulnerability: the foundational support and development structures may not be robust enough to sustain this boom and ensure the sport’s long-term health.
Natascha Knaven-den Ouden, a Dutch development team lead with daughters in the pro peloton, posted the following on Instagram in spring 2025, highlighting what may be a growing problem with the evolution of women’s professional cycling.
“On the surface, women’s cycling is booming. We see more live broadcasts, increasing prize money, and iconic races like the Tour de France Femmes and Paris-Roubaix are now part of the women’s calendar. Major WorldTour teams are fielding women’s squads, and fans are finally starting to recognize the talent and excitement in the women’s peloton.
It all looks like progress, and to a degree, it is.
However, behind that spotlight is a problem we don’t talk about enough: the base of the sport is far too weak to support the weight of the top.
While the elite side is expanding, the broader structure, especially development and grassroots racing, is actually shrinking. Smaller races disappear. Continental and amateur teams struggle to survive. And most critically: young riders are left with fewer opportunities to grow gradually within the sport.
Today, it’s possible, even common, for a beginner to obtain a license, sign with a small continental team, and be thrown directly into the same races as world-class athletes like Lotte Kopecky. That would be unthinkable in football, tennis, or athletics. But in women’s cycling, it’s a reality.
This isn’t a criticism of individual riders or teams, it’s a systemic issue. A sign that we’ve focused too much on building the top, without strengthening the ladder that leads there. Without regional races, strong national calendars, and structured development programs, we’re setting up a system where only the most exceptional talent breaks through, and where many others drop out before they’ve had a chance to develop.”
Increasing the number of women racing bikes, inside or outside, has to become a priority for those interested in the future of the sport. The FemmeCycle Collab, a group of passionate cyclists and indoor cycling enthusiasts, has a few ideas to get more women onto the roads, whether they be virtual or IRL. We are dedicated to increasing the number of women racing bikes at all levels and ages.
What is something that could increase the number of women racing bikes?
Somewhat recent innovations such as indoor riding platforms (eg Zwift, MyWhoosh, Rouvy, and TrainingPeaks) are beginning to change the thin support for developing riders described above. These virtual environments serve as accessible training grounds, allowing women—whether casual riders or aspiring racers—to develop their skills and understanding of racing culture from home. These platforms enable riders to participate in structured workouts, group rides, and competitive events, with full transparency of their performance stats. Women can track their progress, analyze their strengths and weaknesses, and gain a deeper appreciation of racing strategies—all in a highly engaging, community-oriented environment.
Why are indoor platforms a good tool for accomplishing grassroots growth for women specifically?
While indoor platforms may not fully replicate training outdoor bike handling and pack riding skills crucial for professional racers, they offer a vital stepping stone. For racers in thinly populated areas, especially, these platforms provide an opportunity to compete against strong female competitors, helping them identify their unique talents, such as a “puncheur” superpower, which might otherwise go unrecognized when training with mixed-gender groups. Identifying an athlete’s strength is a starting point for building their personal race profile or strategies (think, Pidcock as a descender, or Cavendish as a sprinter, informing their training).
By engaging with these digital spaces, women can transition from casual cyclists to athletes, developing an understanding of their own racing tactics and the physical demands of competition. This accessibility democratizes participation by overcoming barriers like cost, geography, and time constraints often faced at the grassroots level. As more women utilize these platforms, they gain the skills, motivation, and confidence necessary to excel in outdoor racing.
Expanding participation through these virtual environments is not a substitute for traditional racing, but rather a complement that broadens the base of future cyclists. When women can immerse themselves in the sport digitally—competing, setting goals, and learning about race dynamics—they are more likely to stay engaged and aspire to compete in real-world events. Over time, these virtual experiences can feed into physical competitions, creating a seamless pathway from online training to outdoor racing. The next step in this pathway would naturally be to take this larger pool of riders and build their skill level in outdoor settings in more local settings before they feed into the greater elite pool of riders.
Furthermore, increasing the number of women actively involved at every level—with the aid of such platforms—builds a strong, diverse talent pool. When participation is higher, talent is naturally identified earlier, and more riders receive the support they need to progress. A larger, more inclusive community nurtures the next generation of elite racers, ensuring that talent is not lost due to a lack of exposure or development opportunities. In addition, indoor racing can help bridge the gap for riders who don’t have access to larger fields of racers in their hometowns. Additionally, indoor racing offers a solution for riders in areas with limited access to larger competitive fields.
What’s one thing you’re doing right now to show you value racing?
The FemmeCycle Collab created an in-game kit for Zwift that reflects our hopes for the future of the sport. That jersey is a statement of our belief that women’s racing should be more approachable and more visible. Identifying a rider as a female racer shows other women on the platform that there ARE women racing, not just the elites, but moms, grandmothers, retirees, and everyone else that doesn’t have the bandwidth or desire to train 12+ hours a week. Because the more women who race means the more women’s fields will be needed, inside and outside. We hope that increasing the number of women who race will, in turn, drive the demand for more women’s fields, both virtually and in real-world events.
Elevating women’s cycling will require a multifaceted approach. Building a robust base of participation through grassroots races, structured development programs, and innovative platforms like Zwift is crucial. These efforts create a sustainable pipeline where women can progress from casual riders to seasoned racers, understanding and appreciating the sport’s culture and intricacies along the way. A strong top must be supported by an equally resilient foundation—only then can women’s cycling reach its full potential.
And what do you think is next?
With a growing number of women participating in cycling, it’s crucial for those competing at higher community levels to grasp performance verification in indoor training. This encompasses everything from accurately inputting height and weight online to a thorough understanding of their equipment. Initiatives like the Fair e-racing alliance (https://www.f-e-r-a.org/) are already assisting teams with this vital aspect of legitimizing online racing.
And then?
The sky’s the limit.
