In the long march of women’s bike racers towards parity within their sport, there have been obvious turning points, moments when the process has noticeably accelerated and gained fresh, and crucially lasting, momentum.
It was 1958 when the UCI incorporated women’s world championships, against their will and in miserly fashion, remaining at the mercy of organisers who might not want to be part of the process. The accession of women racers to the Olympics in 1984 was immense, although again there was no initial recognition that women could or should be allowed to race for the same medals as men. Others might point to the first women’s Tour of Flanders in 2004, or to the founding of the Women’s Tour in the UK in 2014.
