This needs to change. The dynamic at play when women lead women is unique, strong, and deeply effective. And there are historical precedents, even in cycling, to back that up.
Take the case of Millie Robinson and Eileen Gray, for example. Millie Robinson, one of the largely unsung heroes of women’s racing, won the first women’s Tour de France in 1955. A few years down the road she went on to set a new hour record and was considered the top rider on the road. She’s remembered today as an important ambassador for women’s racing, a rider who demonstrated fierce determination while being considered warm and cheerful by her fellow competitors.
Of course, no one reaches this level of success without a solid network of support, and Millie Robinson’s story is closely linked to that of Eileen Gray. Gray managed Robinson’s team when she won the Tour de France and was instrumental in both helping to shape her career and in the larger context of cycling history. Gray was the driving force that got the UCI to introduce a women’s World Championships, and, later, a women’s road race at the Olympics. Devoted, accomplished, and fiercely supportive of other women cyclists, Grey was described like this: “She was like a battleship, in that if you sailed with her, you knew you would be looked after, and she would protect you to the death.”
Now that’s the kind of person you want in your corner. The strength and value of these relationships continues to shine through as we see it unfolding with the success Trek-Segafredo has had so far this season, and with the accomplishments of other strong women mentors in the world of cycling. When women lead women, special things happen.
Thanks to a natural inclination towards empathy and a high valuation of relationships, women are predisposed to have a strong understanding of what drives and motivates people. They’re also able to more easily understand that different people require different kinds of acknowledgement and feedback regarding their performance—a skill that is vital in the world of professional sports.
It is important that organizations take steps to facilitate the development of these mentorship relationships. Studies have found that women have a more difficult time finding mentors than men and encounter added barriers on the road to establishing the kind of support system they need. This is notable because, as we’ve talked about before, mentorship plays an incredibly important role, not only in achieving success, but also in maintaining a healthy and satisfying relationship towards one’s passion.
For those reasons, and many more, we’d like to see more women in leadership roles throughout the professional cycling ecosystem. Women have proven over and over again that, despite often starting out at a disadvantage, they have what it takes to defy the odds. They demonstrate high emotional intelligence, are strong communicators, and are able to check their egos at the door. So in remembering the legacy of Millie Robinson and Eileen Gray, and looking towards the future of women’s cycling, here’s to seeing a lot more women in roles where they have the chance to lead by example.
