Philippa York’s Women’s Tour (pt 3): Egalitarianism

Philippa York’s Women’s Tour (pt 3): Egalitarianism

In this final extract from her feature on the 2018 Women’s Tour, Philippa York goes native with roadside spectators and considers what changing attitudes mean on the sidelines

Philippa York Racing Women's Tour womens cycling

Two days later I’m back, in Evesham this time, but more as a normal spectator than someone with media accreditation.

 

Today I want to mingle with the ordinary folk rather than interrogate race people, though somehow I end up doing that at both ends of the stage.

 

Whilst hanging around at the start, Guy Elliot introduces me to Mitchelton-Scott rider Gracie Elvin who is one of the founders of the Cyclists’ Alliance and I’m struck by how articulate she is when she talks about the current issues of equality and fairness in the promotion of the sport.

 

I learn lots from her on just how well organised the Women’s Tour is, easily their best race outside of the Classics in terms of crowds and coverage, but she also sees there’s still room for improvement with the race’s route.

 

The road surfaces aren’t always great and there’s a lot of road furniture to avoid, but that unfortunately is the state of modern Britain’s infrastructure. I get the feeling that Sweetspot’s equality in prize money with the men’s race and the level of investment is really appreciated by the women and that’s why they make sure they do their best, not only in racing terms but in promoting the event.

The main reason I’m on a second visit is to take in some of the atmosphere and feel what the spectators are experiencing, so with that in mind I head off to Snow Hill, the hardest climb on the fourth stage.

 

Whilst waiting for the race to arrive I do what most people do and pile into the local pub for a coffee. It’s quite busy but I manage to find a seat opposite a family. Mum, dad, two kids, one of each, and I know they are here to see the race go by as the little boy has a Team Sky jersey on.

 

All is going well until the two children start squabbling and need separating. There’s a radio playing in the background and one of the news items mentions it’s one hundred years since women were given the vote.

 

“Why haven’t I got a cycling jersey?” the little girl cries. The parents look at each other and you could almost hear the cogs whirring as they realised that equality wasn’t just something they talked about, it was now their responsibility.

Stage 4, Women's Tour 2018

I watched the race pass at the hardest part just after the mountain sprint line when the route came out of the village and into a brutal sidewind section. The girls came past in one line, all in the gutter and flat out. I’d chosen well to see maximum suffering – that’s experience for you.

 

After that I trundled down to Worcester and hung out near the finish, trying to tidy up my notes and make some sense of what I was going to write. Predictably it started to rain just as the race reached the last kilometres, so the sprint, taken by Boels-Dolmans rider Amalie Dideriksen, was rather sketchy. Storey Racing achieved their aim of a top ten placing when Neah Evans finished ninth.

 

On the way back to the car, I was thinking about the difference between the men’s Tour of Britain race and the Women’s Tour and how they have differing effects when I spotted the Scottish-sounding fast food outlet that starts with an “m” and finishes with a “d”. In I went and got myself an ice cream.

It was crammed with people who had watched the race, so I sat outside on a wall and whilst scoffing my sundae, three teenagers rocked up. You know the usual sort who hang around this type of establishment: loud, laughing, poking each other in between looking at their phones and being bored. There are two girls and one boy who has a BMX bike with him, and I hear one of the girls say to the other: “You could do that. You’re well fast on your bike.”

 

Then the boy pipes up with: “Yeah, you could do that.” The girl who they think has the talent nods and says: “Yeah, I can.”

 

Extract from Women on Tour, first published in Rouleur 18.7

 

Part I 

Part II

 


The post Philippa York’s Women’s Tour (pt 3): Egalitarianism appeared first on The world's finest cycling magazine.

Philippa York Racing Women's Tour womens cycling

READ MORE

Making a statement: Can Elisa Longo Borghini's impressive form carry her to a maiden Ardennes victory?

Making a statement: Can Elisa Longo Borghini's impressive form carry her to a maiden Ardennes victory?

The Italian champion's cobbled Classics campaign may have been blighted by a heavy crash at the Tour of Flanders, but her form is seemingly as...

Read more
Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition 2025 preview: Demi Vollering is back

Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition 2025 preview: Demi Vollering is back

The first of the Ardennes Classics could see a reduced sprint, unless the climbers can make attacks stick

Read more
Remco Evenepoel and Tadej Pogačar at the 2024 Tour de France

Amstel Gold Race Men’s 2025 contenders: Will a returning Evenepoel challenge Pogačar?

Rouleur takes a look at the favourites for the first of the Ardennes Classics this Sunday

Read more
Joe Pidcock's lonely solo ride at Paris-Roubaix: 'The cobbled sectors were full of people walking'

Joe Pidcock's lonely solo ride at Paris-Roubaix: 'The cobbled sectors were full of people walking'

The Yorkshireman was the last rider to cross the line at Paris-Roubaix, 53 minutes and 40 seconds after the winner

Read more
A Roubaix romance: Why this is sport's greatest stadium

A Roubaix romance: Why this is sport's greatest stadium

The finish of Paris-Roubaix is like no other and the velodrome will be home to legends for years to come, writes Rachel Jary

Read more

READ RIDE REPEAT

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Get closer to the sport than ever before.

Enjoy a digital subscription to Rouleur for just £4 per month and get access to our award-winning magazines.

SUBSCRIBE