It was over two years ago that Ruth Edwards (née Winder), in theory, walked away from professional cycling but on Friday she was once again getting ready to launch into the peloton, finding a fitting start to her reboot at the Santos Women’s Tour Down Under.
The last time the rider from the United States was at the race it was in 2020, and then she walked away with overall victory at the then 2.Pro race, as well as a stage win. Returning as a former winner there are plenty of good memories and reminders of her past success, from oversized images of race winners in the hotel hub to the names listed on the steps of the entryway, but plenty has also changed in four years.
“It feels pretty different to last time I raced but in a really good way,” Winder told Cyclingnews in Hahndorf as she was getting ready on the start line. “I kind of see it with a different perspective now and I am a little more relaxed and I’m just excited for today.”
