Who are the female stars and role models in pro-am cycling? Get your info here!

[BikeMomma]

Velogirl's unfortunately true statements in the Eddie Merckx thread (http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=9780) about knowing and recognizing who the Who's Who of women's pro (or even pro-am) are got me thinking. As good as OLN is with men's pro events now, they positively suck just as much ('scuse my francais) with the amount of broadcasting they give of the women's ones (uh, that's NIL!!). The cycling mag's aren't much better. So I decided to set up this thread so that we can all post pics, bios, and results of the some of them. That way, we have a place to refer to. Then, maybe the next time we go to watch a race or otherwise, we'll know who we're looking at. ;)

Post links, scanned pics, race results, team pages, etc, whatever....let's just share and inform each other so that perhaps WE can be familiar with some of these awesome ladies to (ideally anyway) the same degree we would know and recognize George, Levi, or that guy who won 7 (ol'whassis name...you know). :p And please note, these posts should in NO way be limited to just road....include cyclocross, downhill, freestyle, etc etc, including international. Awesome women are everywhere, we just don't hear about them.

So, post away, gals! I really hope this can become a good reference thread for everyone.

Thinking further, Susan -- would a new topic line be in order? That way we can post individual threads about each racer and the ensuing discussion about them wouldn't get jumbled up in the other conversations.

In the new VeloNews, there are a couple articles. When I get a chance, I'll scan them and post them here.

Have fun! :D
~BikeMomma

[BikeMomma]

To start, here are a couple links:

http://www.ladiescycling.net Scroll down to choose your language. Alot of these race updates are about European/International racing. Good for you gals overseas...

http://www.womenscycling.net/index.htm Lots of pics here!

Here's one of the VeloNews pics. Came out sortof grainy from the scanner, sorry. It's of Sabrina Jonnier (Iron Horse-Monster team) who won the Pro Women's downhill at the Aug. 12th NORBA finals in Snowmass, Colorado.
1402

And before I quit this for the night, here's Laura Van Gilder, who is currently on the top of the standings for USCF Cat 1 Criterium & Road. It won't let me do a "save as", so here's the link:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=photos/2005/may05/bikejam05/P1010007

~BikeMomma

[Grog]

Marie-Hélène Prémont.

Mountain bike queen.

And an amazing smile.

I was lucky enough to see her this summer as I was riding with my better half on the Marie-Hélène Prémont Véloroute near Québec City. She lives right around the corner in Château-Richer and there she was, riding home on her mountain bike. She very nicely responded to our casual salutation. Here she is:

http://www.bikes.com/team/m_premont.aspx

(edited to say: not sure she's really a pro though. just a queen!)

[Kalidurga]

I don't know of anyone to add, but I'll throw in my two cents that it would be great to add a forum for Pro Racing in general. Then we could discuss George, Levi, whassis name, etc, and have those in the know post info about the female racers that we all need to learn more about.

[BikeMomma]

Good idea....or just ONE (count it, ONE) thread for the pro guys. After all, it's a women's forum and they get ENOUGH coverage. :p :p We can be stingey! :D

~Kim

[Fredwina]

www.womenscycling.net is a site that covers women's racing.

[aka_kim]

From the front page (!) at velonews.com today: (Kristin) Armstrong Takes World TT Title (http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/10903.0.html).

http://images.velonews.com/images/int/10903.16416.t.jpg

[mimitabby]

:D :D There's always Alfonsina Morini

http://www.radiomarconi.com/marconi/...a_inglese.html

[Bluetree]

Watch for an up-and-comer named Coryn Rivera.

I was at the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix last month and saw this tiny woman win the Cat 3 race. The next day I logged onto the web site to see how all my friends finished. Lo and behold, I noticed that the same woman entered the Cat 1-2 Pro race immediately afterwards and finished mid-pack. They were flying. So who was she?

I googled her name and discovered that she is a 14-year-old from Orange County. Not only that, she is the junior champion in road, track and cyclocross. You go, girl!

[tattiefritter]

Nicole Cooke, Britains best road cyclist male or female at the minute and current World Cup holder (also a previous junior mtb champion):

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/5310702.stm

We hear very little about what Nicole is up to in the UK even though she actually wins things! :mad:

Also on the MTB front Tracey Moseley who's just won the World Cup downhill title. Britain is quite well respresented in women's dowhill but not XC for some reason, possibly because Nicole concentrates on the road.

http://www.shecycles.com/news/article/mps/UAN/860/v/1/sp/

Gunn-Rita Dahle - who just seems to rule women's XC

[BikeMomma]

From the front page (!) at velonews.com today: (Kristin) Armstrong Takes World TT Title (http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/10903.0.html).

And more accolades for Kristin, named by the US Olympic Committee as the female Athlete of the Month! Go Kristin!!!
http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=2606

Thanks for posting, gals. This thread is turning out great -- keep posting!
~BikeMomma :)

[Mimosa]

Wow, looking from the european (road) side there are loads of pro girls worth mentioning. But I'll stick to 2 girls (and leave out the german onces :D :p )

US: Amber Neben (http://www.amberneben.com), an US girl riding on the continent for a dutch pro team

NL: Marianne Vos (http://www.mariannevos.nl), the world champion Road and CX (and only 19 years old)

Owh and another news website (http://cyclingfx.nl/Cyclingladies/) (in english)