Women’s competitive cycling is born
The sixth edition of Spinneys Dubai 92 hosted the largest elite women’s field to date with 36 finishers. In addition, 124 female riders competed in the open category. This is a result of a big boom in women’s cycling, especially in the last year. Emma Woodcock, founder of Velo Vixens, a UAE women’s cycling group, reveals a growth from 160 female members to 540 in just one year. In addition to welcoming more women into cycling from a social and exercising aspect, the Urban Ultra women’s only competitive cycling league has been set up in collaboration with the UAE Cycling Federation. This has prompted female cyclists in the UAE to form competitive teams; some of which have been able to get sponsors onboard. In order for women to participate in these federation races, they must, as riders, belong to one of these teams. As a direct result of this, more female riders than ever are signing up for cycle races and challenges in the UAE.
On the back of the implementation of this female league , more female riders than ever before in the UAE feel confident, more experienced and well looked after in their respective teams, to take on challenges such as the Spinneys Dubai 92.
In the 2015 edition with 35+ elite female registrations, women were allocated a female only start for the first time and while the challenge was underway no male riders were allowed to merge with the female elite riders and vice versa. In order to qualify as an elite rider for the Spinneys 92, a rider must hold a UCI UAE or UCI International license.
On 12th December, nine teams from the Urban Ultra league took to the start line in the Autodrome early in the morning prior to sunrise. The teams were Liv, Team TREK Tigresses, Velo Vixens, High5, Wolfi’s Contessas, BeSport, The Cycle Hub, Urban Ultra and Souplesse Cycle, along with a couple of riders from Revolution Cycles and from outside the UAE. This made it the largest elite female field witnessed to date. In addition to competing for first place and earning the title of Elite Female Winner 2015, every rider and team registered with the Urban Ultra cycle league also competed for points for the overall league leaderboard. This gave most riders in the challenge an incentive to perform to their best ability for their respective team. The Spinneys 92 is just one of the cycle challenges selected as part of the league calendar, in agreement between the league organisers and team leaders.
As the Challenge Unfolds
At 6:00 a.m. the elite male category were sent off on the 92K route, competing for the 2015 title. 2 minutes later it was the elite female category’s turn to start their “engines” and begin the challenge. Snaking out through the dark and bendy race track, visiting Danish rider, Josefine Huitfeldt from the Danish development team Rytger, took to the front, picked up the pace and lead the pack through the dark. Before exiting the F1 track, the group had separated into two pelotons, with 22 riders making it out with the front group. Despite some break away attempts, mainly by Wolfi’s Contessas, the front peloton remained the same size almost until the end, with strong riders from The Cycle Hub and BeSport team on a mission to close any gaps that were created. Towards the end of Hessa Street and only 3km before the finish line, the elite female front peloton was caught by the front group of Male A riders (who had a start time of 10 mins after the female group) and this resulted in a bit of chaos as the female riders were swallowed and merged with the male riders. In a moment of slightly chaotic decision making, the female riders attempted to remain on the right side of the male peloton, but whilst still seeking to benefit from any drafting off the male group. Closing in towards the finish line inside the Autodrome, the combination of all these riders unfortunately left very little space for the females to have their own sprint finish. Aimee Wright from The Cycle Hub team took the winning title for 2015 (and maximum points for the women’s league table), while two riders from Wolfi’s Contessas finished second and third within a second of the winner.
Team Tactics and Strategies
With teams in place and a few league races under the belt, we are starting to see the elite women implementing or attempting some race strategies. One of the more experienced and bigger teams Wolfi’s Contessas were trying out some different team tactics; keeping a high-steady pace and launching breakaways in order to avoid a sprint finish. They wanted fewer riders in the final sprint and they wanted to tire out sprinters from other teams so that they didn’t have such fresh legs in the end, as team leader later revealed. Given that this is a new role for her and her team, she was happy with the team communication and their three breakaway attempts.
Aimee Wright, winner and team leader of The Cycle Hub team, tells me that their strategy was to react on any attacks launched from other teams. Otherwise, the plan was to sit in the peloton and wait for a sprint finish; which worked out well as they took the win.
One of the less experienced teams, Team TREK Tigresses, explained that their objective was for each team rider to finish in the best time possible for team points. They wanted to attempt to start out more aggressively than usual to remain in a peloton. Four riders of five succeeded and finished with the second elite peloton.
Riders’ Experiences
The general feedback on the Spinneys 92 Cycle Challenge, from the elite women’s point of view, was that it was an enjoyable, educational and successful event, with all female riders staying safe. The challenge offered opportunities to try out different race tactics too and for the teams to bond. Also adding to the positive experience was event organisation such as venue and volunteers.
Dee Boys, leading the Liv team, enjoyed competing in a more professional manner and adds that having a women’s only category makes the women’s race fairer and more competitive, while Amber Mirza, heading up Team TREK Tigresses, tells me that her team members, all being new to competitive cycling, are learning an immense amount from every race they take part in, anything from personal limitations, race strategies, to how to fuel before and during events. The team is continually learning and evolving and this is resulting in growing strength from one challenge to the next.
As the team leader of the BeSport team and a contender in the front peloton, I believe this was a very successful attempt by most teams, whether taking an active or reactive approach. With an almost entirely flat course and no strong winds on the day, it would be hard for any team to implement active strategies to split the peloton further. On this type of course, riders also have the opportunity to practise positioning within the peloton.
Women’s Only Category – How Will That Influence Women’s Competitive Cycling in the Future?
Ruth Foley, from team High5, shares her views saying, “This will only serve to improve all riders; encouraging more women to race will help increase competition at the front. For the less experienced group of elite riders it provides racing experience, something that somebody relatively new to cycling, like me, is not used to.”
Tiina-Maija Bergman adds, “We believe it will encourage more women to take part, the atmosphere in Spinneys 92 was as always supportive and positive and the passion we feel for the sport and our league is infectious! We are proud and happy to be part of this history making, bringing a UAE women’s cycling league to reality.”
From my personal point of view, I would also like to hope that these “women only events” will build the foundations and inspire younger talented female riders to embrace the sport and create a safer, more attractive and supportive environment for their development. Furthermore, as we already have some Emirati riders embracing the competitive side of cycling in the UAE, we also aim to create a friendly, female-oriented setting for any local girls, inviting not only to take up cycling as a form of exercise, but also offering an opportunity to develop as an athlete in a female environment.
Lastly, Dee Boys of Liv and Helen Rodd, team leader of Velo Vixens, agree that beyond the competitive aspect, an event like Spinneys Dubai 92 also creates excitement and fun for the participants, which helps promote women and health. It will encourage more women into the sport of cycling.
You can follow these women again as they compete in the spectacular scenery of Liwa on the 22nd of January 2016 on a very tough course which undoubtedly will unfold differently to the Spinneys 92 challenge and put all riders through a tough strength challenge.
Words By: Helle Bachofen von Echt
Photos By: Anton Vos and Usman Oluwaseyi
