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Wiggle Honda Women’s Pro Cycling Team launch

Dani King, Joanna Rowsell and Laura Trott star in brand new team launched today in London

Is this the future of women’s cycling?

Based on the enthusiasm clearly evident at the launch of the exciting new Wiggle Honda Women’s Pro Cycling Team, held today at the Millbank Tower in central London in front of the UK media, you’d be forgiven for thinking so.

It’s early days, but there’s been much excitement since details were first revealed about this new gathering of the best women racing cyclists in the world right now. With a squad of 14 women that reads like a who’s who of women racers, including Dani King, Joanna Rowsell and Laura Trott, the undisputed queens of the track at the Olympics last summer, there’s a real depth of talent running right through the team. They’re going to be an unstoppable force on the road this season, that much is clear.

The team is the work of reigning Commonwealth road race champion Rochelle Gilmore, who owns and manages the team. All that and she will be racing too. She describes bringing together what some are calling the ‘dream team’ as a labour of love for the past four years. “It’s been a lot of hard work to get to this point,” she says, “but really the hard work is to be done on the road this season, to achieve what we’ve set out to do.”

It’s taken the last four years to get to this position where she’s been able to attract to top-line sponsors and a star studded lineup. She’s very clear on why she’s set out to create this team, and tells of a turning point last year that reinforced her view that women’s cycling is inadequately supported and given the respect it deserves.

“Last year there was one incident that reminded me I need to take this step. And that was one day when the team I was with had the athletes travel from Italy to Belgium, I think it took them 13 hours, and they arrived after midnight. The next day they were expected to perform at world class level and unfortunately for them they didn’t on the day. The answers for me were right there why they didn’t perform, but the directors of the team couldn’t understand, and blamed it on their previous training methods.

“I was 100% convinced the girls were in top form and they were let down in the last 24-hours by logistical reasons.” Reasons, she says, were difficult for her to see and really hard to accept. “They didn’t get the best out of themselves that day.”

Her aim, simply, is to give the women the opportunity to do their best on the day. It’s about giving them the support, the environment, the advice, they need to perform at the highest level.

It’s widely reported that women’s cycling is woefully and embarrassingly under supported and funded when compared to the men’s racing. There is very little money, both in the budgets the team have to look after the riders and provide the top level sport they need to compete on the world stage, and in also in the wages and prize money they receive. The team declined to divulge details of the budget they have for the season, but we’re betting it’s sufficient to have an impact on the running of women’s teams.

Women’s cycling, more than ever, is on the agenda this year. Following a fantastic London 2012 Olympics, where female athletes were the undoubted stars of the show, there’s many searching questions being asked of the portrayal and backing for, not just women’s cycling, but all female sports. The playing field needs to be level.

Could this team be the turning point? On its own, probably not, but it’s a significant step in the right direction. Many eyes, both within the sport and outside, will be on this fledgling group of riders as they embark on the most exciting step in their careers.

The team:

Giorgia Bronzini
Laura Trott
Joanna Rowsell
Dani King
Rochelle Gilmore
Elinor Barker
Lauren Kitchen
Mayuko Hagiwara
Emily Collins
Amy Roberts
Anna-Bianca Schnitzmeier
Beatrice Bartelloni

Staff:

Director Sportif: Simon Cope
Mechanic: Adam Nordmeyer
PR Manager: Myfanwy Galloway
Photographer: Bart Hazen
Soigneur / Masseur: Kristof Van Campenhout

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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42 comments

Avatar
VeNT | 11 years ago
0 likes

omg, would you just look at that, I'm drooling here,
so pretty, wish I'd been there
I mean, just look at those BIKES!
wish I had one  3

glad to see more backers for womens cycling, if only we had more COVERAGE! that's what'll bring in the money!

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andyp | 11 years ago
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'Not to rain on everyone's party, but they could use a nutritionist and weight control program. Their physiques don't represent that of a competitive cyclist.
'

Palmares and photo NOW please. Then we can decide if you have any idea what you're going on about or not.

Avatar
Sam1 replied to FMOAB | 11 years ago
0 likes
FMOAB wrote:

Comm88, if you comments are serious, you really need to get a grip of yourself.

Actually, perhaps you do, that would explain the tone of them.

Nicely done  1

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notfastenough | 11 years ago
0 likes

One of the things that bothers athletes is looking like some purebred beast that isn't attractive outside of sporting interests. This bothers the fellas less because serious muscle tone looks masculine. (I wouldnt like thighs like greg forstemann, but if I did have, I'd be chuffed if girls went 'phroah' and not 'ugh, freaky legs') Females usually still would like to be attractive. Would anyone here really be bothered if females cyclists remarked that you were attractive?

Put another way, are there any gay lads on this forum that admire the males? Someone remarked the other day that Cav (I think) was dishy. Don't know what gender the poster was, but regardless, I don't think anyone kicked up a fuss about that. Provided it doesn't cross a line, I suspect the ladies would take it as a compliment.

Go girls, ride it like you stole it. Good luck.

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Giusto | 11 years ago
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You people act like cavemen. Why all the sudden hostility? Because of the gals? Yes, sure they are beautiful and fit but all this "territorial behaviour" is quite unnecessary as it's not very likely that you stood a chance. If you know what I mean  3

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OldnSlo | 11 years ago
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Hope the track riders make a good transition to road. Have to say I find the kit is rather drab but the bikes however are drop dead gorgeous. Look forward to seeing coverage on mainstream TV.

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comm88 | 11 years ago
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To all of the women - and some men, it seems - who have since posted to my post - you really are a sad, sad lot. Honestly - grow up. You really have nothing to say and frankly nothing worth hearing. And I DEFINITELY do not need your advice on what is and what is not "appropriate behaviour". As a good friend once said: Just because you're ugly there's no need to come out and frighten people with it. Your comments are both small-minded and ugly. End of.

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aslongasicycle | 11 years ago
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I think that's a worthy footnote. Coruscating wit and irony shut us down.

One request: Would you mind posting an image and location on here so women know where to find company when walking at night?
Cheers mate.

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TomvanHalen | 11 years ago
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comm88, perhaps read this and get some perspective, you twit. Do I think Laura Trott complains when she gets wolf whistled in the street? Yes, I think she probably does, like most other women when faced with people like you.

http://www.rolereboot.org/culture-and-politics/details/2012-12-a-letter-...

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Doctor Fegg replied to koko56 | 11 years ago
0 likes
koko56 wrote:

So it's completely fine to look at women's volleyball that way

No. No, it isn't. Not sure why you thought I and others might think that.

Quote:

Get over it, bro.

"Brogramming" is a relatively new but useful coinage. Maybe we need a bike equivalent. Bro cycling?

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PJ McNally replied to aslongasicycle | 11 years ago
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aslongasicycle wrote:
American tifosi wrote:

Not to rain on everyone's party, but they could use a nutritionist and weight control program. Their physiques don't represent that of a competitive cyclist.  39

I've decided this is extremely clever satire. It couldn't be anything else.

Must be. "Nutritionist" gives it away.

(Goldacre demolishes that word, with the help of Dara O'Briain, here - http://bit.ly/10IOlI3

Avatar
SportsTrophyCo | 11 years ago
0 likes

The best news in cycling since sky, well done everyone involved.

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