What’s the first thing that comes into mind when you mention the word ‘cycling’? A male dominated sport? Well if so, you’re incorrect. Women cycle too and end up being pretty epic riders, but are too underrated by the public. We’ve chosen our top 5 women cyclists that have achieved phenomenal things during their riding careers.
Annie Londonderry
Londonderry was an absolute legend. She was an individual on a mission – to destroy stereotypes that women were rubbish at everything. As well as being a feminist icon, she was the first woman to cycle the globe – pretty impressive eh? She cycled through the likes of Boston, Paris, Jerusalem, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago.
Once she completed her global cycling adventure, she went back to her career as a journalist and being a feminist.
Marianne Martin
The 1980s was the birth of Tour Cycliste Féminin, which was later recognised as the Grande Boucle Feminine Internationale. The race was later known as Tour de France Féminin, the first race took place in 1984.
She won the opening race and completed the 616 mile course in 29 hours, 39 minutes and 2 seconds. She battled with anaemia earlier on that year, which didn’t give her the best start to the race. But by the time she had reached stage 14, she took the lead on the most exhausting hill climb, where she defeated the rest of the cyclists! Get in Martin.
Jeannie Longo
Longo was born on 31st October 1958. She is currently riding even though she is now in her mid 50’s (pretty sick tbh), which just shows her passion for cycling!
She’s beaten many records, a few of which were the Olympic Road Championship in 1996, 13 world championships and 59 French championships. Longo started off with a passion for skiing but then moved her passion onto track and road cycling.
With the records she’s smashed as well as being a three gold medal holder (1987, 1988, 1989), three silver medal holder (1985, 1986, 1992) and one-time bronze holder (1996), there’s no wonder why she’s one of the best French female cyclists out there!
Beryl Burton
Burton was the only woman cyclist who managed to hold the Road Time Trials Council’s “British Best All-Rounder” title for 25 years!!! That’s a quarter of a century where Burton was the greatest female cyclist in the whole of the United Kingdom!
Burton was a remarkable figure in the cycling industry, she broke the record for the 12 hour time trial at 277.25 miles and held onto that record for 2 years (which also happened to be higher than the men’s record).
In addition to this, she earnt 90+ domestic championships, seven world championships and other records. Burton was clearly a woman of passion.
Marianne Vos
Road racing, track racing, mountain bike racing, cyclo-cross – you name it, Vos can do it.
Vos still cycles and has been called “the finest cyclist of her generation” by The Guardian. At 28 years old, she’s won Olympic medals and world championship titles. At such a young age, we expect to be seeing much more of her over the next decade.
