Perhaps if were able to enjoy the battles for what they are: human competition, with all its human flaws like fatigue and mistakes and ‘failures,’ then we would value the extraordinary stories and performances that our women cyclists would have to offer.
When Alyson Felix (USA) won the women’s 200m in London, it was an inspired, graceful, and dominant performance. Not one commentator needed to compare her to Usain Bolt and his ‘faster’ time.
Women’s cycling doesn’t need to apologise for being a smaller, slower, less dramatic version of the ProTour. I realise now I was wrong in my ideas a few months back about instilling the help of important men, when they don’t give a crap. We don’t need the scandals, the lies, the drama and the bullshit.
We want to keep all the fabulous committed staff we have, to race the way we do, and show the world how awesome it can be. Every staff member of U.S. and European women’s teams are there because they love it, not because they’re waiting to get a better gig in a ProTour team.
Thankfully, on July 27 this year, we witnessed what was arguably the most exciting, dramatic and challenging one-day race of the season: the Olympic Women’s Road Race. World number one, Marianne Vos, lived out her dream of winning gold over those tense, waterlogged final kilometres – and more people watched on television than the men’s race the previous day.
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Skipping the cool party « Bridie O’Donnell « Cyclismas | cycling satire and commentary
Bridie goes on a rampage - her thoughts on the demise of AA Drink-Leontien.nl and how women’s cycling is great because what it is. I love this piece, and recommend you read it!
