So, as we all wind down for the holidays, we’d like to share some of our top highlights from an incredible year of women’s cycling.
A landmark year for the women’s peloton
From the heart-stopping action of the Paris Olympics to the drama of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, 2024 emphasised the sport’s growth in prominence, accessibility, and reach. This year also marked key advancements in the fight for gender equity within cycling and more significant investment in emerging talent from around the world. All signs indicate that the sport is on the brink of its most influential era yet.
Olympic glory in Paris: A showcase of the best
The 2024 Paris Olympics offered a global stage for women’s cycling, with Kristen Faulkner delivering a masterful ride to claim the gold medal in the road race. Racing through the iconic streets of Paris, Faulkner’s strategic attack up the Côte de la Butte Montmartre and a daring solo finish thrilled fans worldwide. She edged out seasoned legends like Marianne Vos and Lotte Kopecky who completed the podium with silver and bronze, respectively.
In the time trial, Grace Brown reaffirmed her dominance, claiming gold with an unassailable lead. The Olympic Games also highlighted an increasing depth of talent globally, with strong performances from riders representing Africa, Asia, and South America, signalling cycling’s growing inclusivity.
Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift: Niewiadoma finally claims top spot
The 2024 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift was a dramatic and historic race, culminating in Katarzyna Niewiadoma securing her first title by an incredibly narrow margin of just four seconds over defending champion Demi Vollering. Niewiadoma’s victory was cemented on the final stage, a gruelling ascent to Alpe d’Huez, where she managed to maintain her lead despite a strong challenge from Vollering. The Polish rider’s triumph was particularly sweet after third-place finishes and a challenging season.
This win was not only a significant personal milestone for Niewiadoma but also a historic achievement for Polish cycling and an indication that the nation’s top women rider’s best days are ahead of her.
Spring Classics: All hail Queen Kopecky
Lotte Kopecky reigned supreme during the spring classics, claiming victories at Strade Bianche Women, Nokere Koerse Women, and Paris-Roubaix Women. Her aggressive racing style and versatility on cobbled climbs and rolling terrain left her rivals scrambling for answers.
With numerous wins under her belt by the mid-season wrap to the Classics, she continued to charge ahead. She took the Belgian National Championships in the road race and time trial (a feat she’s accomplished four times to date), underscoring her status as Belgium’s national hero. In the Tour of Britain, she won the opening two stages and carried her form all the way to the Giro d’Italia, where she claimed a stage win and finished second overall.
World Championships: Zurich’s brought another rainbow celebration for Lotte
Closing the season as strongly as she started, Kopecky added wins at the Tour de Romandie and defended her rainbow jersey at the UCI Road World Championships in Zurich, capping off the year with another world title. Her list of achievements was as varied as it was extensive –classics, championships, stage races, and medals.
Overall, the UCI World Championships in Zurich offered an exhilarating week of competition, culminating in a brilliant performance by Lotte Kopecky, who claimed the rainbow jersey in the road race. Kopecky out-sprinted her rivals in a thrilling finish, capping off a career-defining season.
Newly crowned Olympic champion Grace Brown of Australia also added to her list of accolades by winning the women’s time trial title at the 2024 UCI Road Cycling World Championships – effectively ending her career on a glittering high.
Emerging stars: A bright future for the sport
The 2024 cycling season highlighted a wave of young talent poised to shape the future of women’s cycling. Among them, Marion Bunel stood out as a rising star. At just 19, she signed with Team Visma | Lease a Bike Women following a breakout season capped by her Tour de l’Avenir win.
CANYON//SRAM Racing made bold moves in 2024 by promoting Nastya Kolesava from their development squad and signing gravel standout Rosa Klöser. Kolesava impressed with strong showings at the Giro Toscana and Tour de l’Ardéche, showcasing her race intelligence and leadership abilities. Klöser, transitioning from gravel to road racing, promises to bring power and resilience to the team. Both riders reflect the squad’s commitment to nurturing versatile athletes capable of excelling across disciplines.
Young stars also emerged across other teams, including 19-year-old Eilidh Shaw who joined UAE Team ADQ’s development squad after a stellar 2023 season featuring podium finishes and a Scottish national title. Meanwhile, Belgian prodigy Ella Heremans moved to dsm-firmenich PostNL, stepping into the Women’s WorldTour after excelling in junior time trials.
Equality sees both progress and challenges
2024 was a year of significant advancements in gender equity within cycling. Events like the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and the Giro Donne achieved increased parity in prize money and broadcasting time with their male counterparts, signalling progress toward financial equality.
However, challenges remain. Many smaller teams and riders still face disparities in sponsorship opportunities, while the sport must continue working to expand development pathways for riders in non-European countries. Initiatives like UCI’s Women’s WorldTour grants and grassroots programmes in Africa and South America offer hope for a more inclusive future.
Legacy of 2024 and a look at the road ahead
As we close the book on 2024, it’s clear that women’s cycling is experiencing a transformative era. Record-breaking performances, global expansion, and advancements in equality have set the stage for an even brighter future.
With increased investment and visibility, we can expect the sport to stay on its upward trajectory. Here’s to all that awaits us in 2025!
