It's women's cycling week at Cyclingnews and so we have delved into the history books to take a look back at some of the pioneering women in the sport and some of its most successful participants.
Women's cycling has been on a rollercoaster ride in the past decades but after years of seeing events and teams disappear the sport has stabilised and is now growing. There is still a long way to go in terms of funding, structure and exposure but recent years have seen the number of races increase, and the advent of the women's WorldTour is a big step in the right direction.
Bike races existed almost as soon as the bike was invented and the sport really took off when the safety bicycle came about in the late 19th century. While the bicycle allowed a new freedom to women, racing them was not seen as a seemly activity for a respectable lady. However, there were a few daring women in those early days that dared to go against the grain and pioneered the sport we know and love today. Others have since followed in their footsteps and made further advances for women's cycling.
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These are just a few of those women and it is by no means an exhaustive list.
Hélène Dutrieu
Born in 1877 in Tournai, Belgium, Dutrieu followed her brother Eugène into cycling, leaving home at the age of 14 to do so. In 1893, at the tender age of 16, she broke the women's Hour Record. Three years later she won the women's speed track world championships for the first time and would repeat the achievement the following year.
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