‘Listen up ladies,’ says the commissaire. ‘Welcome to the Velobants round of the Central Cyclocross League. Gridding is going to take a while.’ In fact it took 20 minutes to put 165 women in order of ability before blowing the start whistle of the recent Velobants CX in the City 2 cyclocross race.
Yes, you read it correctly – 165 women on the start line. This was the fruit of months of preparation by Fran Whyte, Jeni Sanderson, Rachel Connell, Kevan Findlay, Nathan Thomas and others from the Velobants Cycling Club.
‘After the success of CX in the City 1 in which we had 87 women race, we just thought having 100 women on the start line would be an awesome goal to work towards,’ said Whyte. ‘We didn’t change the course, but to make it even better, after discussions with Stefan Wyman we added in steps that the Park Trust built for us.
‘Helen Wyman was on board too. With her having launched the Helen 100 for the Nationals in 2019 we thought it would be excellent to have her help drive the project. She was excellent and both she and Stef were incredibly enthusiastic and supportive.
‘In Feb 2019 we did some filming with Helen on the course and throughout August we released a “Wyman Wednesday” short video with some top tips or skills for cyclocross.’
Helen also ran some cyclocross clinics and the course was opened up for three previewing sessions the week before the race.
Social buzz and word of mouth
In addition, a social media campaign via Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, including the 3,500-strong Velovixen Facebook group, helped to promote the event. The female Velobants members also publicised the event via word of mouth.
One week before race day 67 women had signed up to race. However, a sudden surge in entries in the final seven days swelled the numbers to 165, with women travelling from as far as the Isle of Man and Yorkshire.
‘Seeing so many different women turn out was an incredibly emotional day for all the Velobants team as we had worked so hard for it for 10 months,’ Whyte recalls.
Indeed the women who turned out on the day ranged from seasoned racers like Katie Scott (Garden Shed UK-Scott-Verge Sport) and Caroline Reuter, to debutants like Liv Cycling Ambassador Elle Linton. Having tried a couple of races on a borrowed mountain bike last year, Linton was keen to come to this race when she heard about it.
‘I’d heard great things about this event and the course and I knew with Velobants trying to get a high level of involvement meant there would be many more friendly faces around,’ Linton explained.
‘I really enjoyed the course. It was challenging and the right balance of technical, and was big enough to not feel crowded even with 160+ women on it. The crowd support was phenomenal and kept me smiling throughout the 50 minutes I was on the course.
‘Afterwards I was exhausted, but happy to have been involved in the day. I surpassed my goal for the event and really that was down to the atmosphere, the crowd support and the other racers.’
Wide range of racing abilities
At the other end of the ability scale Caroline Reuter, currently riding high in the National Cyclocross rankings, made the journey from South London to Milton Keynes.
‘When I saw the day before the race that so many women had signed up, I must say I got slightly scared,’ said the Dulwich Paragon rider. ‘I was worried about the start, specifically about being stuck in a big bunch and crashing. This race was much harder than others I have done because there was more competition, which was great.
‘Whatever your speed, I think everybody had someone to race against for the entire race. There was also a lot more public than usual which meant more encouragement along the course and this was particularly nice. This was one of the best races I’ve ever taken part in.’
Publicity around races can bring good sized women’s fields, as has been seen at the Women’s Team Series Road Races and other local road and track leagues, which attract up to 50 riders. But why did 165 women turn out for a cyclocross race on challenging terrain at Campbell Park?
Perhaps it is the nature of the cycling discipline of cyclocross that appeals to riders. Many women had not heard of this discipline before, but when the concept was explained to them they wanted to have a go. The lack of pressure on a rider to stick with the peloton and riding multiple laps make cyclocross appealing too.
As Linton explains: ‘Although it’s racing, cyclocross is the most inclusive event you can find. With the design being laps, you’re never on your own or feel like you’re last, even when you are! It’s also a fun thing that all the family can do. All you need is a bike and the willingness to say yes to giving it a go.’
Over the five years that Reuter has raced she has competed in time trials, criterium races, track, road and cyclocross, and believes the latter is the best of all the disciplines for getting started in racing.
‘Firstly, it is safe because there is no traffic involved and is it practised on grass or trails, so in case of a crash the landing is generally soft. There is very rarely a serious crash requiring medical attention,’ Reuter said.
‘Secondly, cyclocross is a very inclusive and social sport. On the same day, there will be six or seven races from U10 to Vet60, so the entire family can take part and people get to know each other week after week.
‘Finally, cyclocross helps develop bike handling skills which can be very helpful on the road, and maintain fitness during the winter months.
‘This year, in order to attract more women, the Kinesis London & South East Cyclocross League is organising two rounds with a separate women’s race. The first took place at Herne Hill Velodrome in London this weekend while the second will be in Preston Park in Brighton on Sunday 27th Oct.
‘Going forward for next season, there is a chance the league will incorporate a separate race for women in the timetable, so watch this space!’
More details can be found on the website londonxleague.co.uk and Facebook.
Cyclocross is good for road racers, too
Cyclocross is also favoured by top road racers and mountain bikers alike. Abby Mae Parkinson has spent the road season racing for UCI women’s team Drops. She will now make her professional debut in cyclocross at the Boom Super Prestige race alongside Tom Pidcock and Cameron Mason, competing for Trinity Racing.
Parkinson, who is going back to an activity she initially did as a junior, will find ‘cross very useful for her road racing.
‘I found cyclocross fun when I first tried it. I loved it so much I carried on with it and by the end of the year I was the Junior National Champion!’ she recalled.
‘It definitely kept me fit over the winter and helped me with the short, sharp speed you have to do in the women’s road racing. It’s good for bike handling too and that skill helps you on the road just in case you have to get round obstacles or a crash, or dismount and remount during a bike change.
‘I definitely recommend cyclocross as you can get into it easily just using a mountain bike.’
Mountain biker Tracy Moseley gets involved in muddy fun too now that she is coaching National Trophy winner Harriet Harnden.
‘Cyclocross is definitely one of those events that at the time it’s painful and you hate every moment but as soon as it’s done you find yourself signing up for another one,’ explains the four-time World Downhill and Enduro Champion.
‘For me cyclocross has a really good family, grassroots-feel and is an inclusive discipline. It takes place on a course that will not be too daunting and anyone of any ability and experience can have a go at it. If you have to get off and run with your bike no one will think you can’t ride, as running with your bike is part of the sport.’
Back to the Velobants event and Helen Wyman who participated in the race despite being over three months pregnant, summarises her thoughts on cyclocross: ‘I was chatting to a young woman on the start line who had borrowed her aunt’s bike for the race and she was starting cyclocross because she wanted a new challenge after finishing college.
‘To me these are the kind of people that grow the sport from the ground up. You never know who will be inspired by these kind of things, from 16 years to 90 years.
‘Cyclocross is by far the friendliest safest environment for everyone to take up cycling. It teaches you skills and techniques that are hard to learn on the road and it’s such a great family day out.
‘Everyone can race on the same day and just enjoy a burger and chips afterwards. I absolutely think ‘cross is the best sport in the world and everyone should try it at least once in their lives!’
All photos: Keith Perry
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