{"id":173963,"date":"2019-05-24T09:10:22","date_gmt":"2019-05-24T09:10:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=173963"},"modified":"2019-05-24T09:11:22","modified_gmt":"2019-05-24T09:11:22","slug":"how-the-colorado-classic-is-breaking-the-rules-of-womens-racing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2019\/05\/24\/how-the-colorado-classic-is-breaking-the-rules-of-womens-racing\/","title":{"rendered":"How the Colorado Classic Is Breaking the Rules of Women\u2019s Racing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018We want to build a blueprint that other events can follow and show the world that a sustainable model for women\u2019s racing does exist.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Colorado Classic, a high-profile professional road cycling stage event, has decided to do something pretty unprecedented in 2019\u2014drop the men\u2019s race and let the women be the stars of the show. This brand-new all-women\u2019s standalone will feature longer, harder, high-altitude routes, competitive stipends, substantial prize money, and last, but certainly not least, live coverage. In a bid to address what the professional women\u2019s cycling community has been begging for for years, the Colorado Classic organizers decided to deliver, offering two hours of live coverage for each day of the race. Available on Facebook Live and other streaming services, this is women\u2019s racing on a global stage like never before.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\u00a9 2019 Colorado Classic presented by VF Corporation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the key figures making this ground-breaking event happen is Lucy Diaz. The Chief Operating Officer for the race since 2017, Diaz talked to We Love Cycling about her vision for the race, the community support it has received, and why she believes the Colorado Classic will prove that an all-women\u2019s race can, and will, be financially sustainable.<\/p>\n

Empowering women<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Diaz is an athlete herself and has long been involved in women\u2019s advocacy, especially when it comes to sports. In terms of her vision for the Colorado Classic specifically, one of the turning points came at last year\u2019s race. She was watching the event with her family when her 8-year-old daughter turned to her and asked, \u2018Why do the women only do 4 stages when the men are doing 8?\u2019 She obviously didn\u2019t have a good answer and it only solidified for her the discrepancy in opportunities for women in cycling. Naturally, she was excited to do something about it. \u2018When the option of switching to an all-women\u2019s event came up, I was all for it. This has been an incredible opportunity to meld the personal and professional and I\u2019m so excited about what we\u2019ve accomplished so far.\u2019<\/p>\n

Overcoming skepticism<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lucy Diaz, the chief operating officer for the race since 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of course, the decision to switch to an all-women\u2019s event certainly raised some eyebrows, and the onus was largely on Diaz and her team to justify their decision and prove they could make it work. She explained that, \u2018there was definitely some skepticism from the broader cycling community, but honestly that just served as stronger motivation to work harder and prove them wrong. I know what these women are capable of and I know they won\u2019t disappoint.\u2019<\/p>\n

Creating a sustainable model<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The fact that they received so much support off the bat didn\u2019t hurt either, and shows that Diaz and other organizers are looking to do more than just provide a spotlight for women at this year\u2019s race. \u2018We want to build a blueprint that other events can follow and show the world that a sustainable model for women\u2019s racing does exist. It has been a long road to get to where we are today, but I really believe this is something that could work elsewhere too. The sponsorship is there.\u2019<\/p>\n

And indeed it is, for the first year since the race started, they\u2019ve found a title sponsor in VF Corporation. The umbrella company of The North Face, Timberland, and other major brands, a sponsor of this calibre is nothing to scoff at. Diaz says, \u2018we are thrilled to have secured this kind of sponsorship. We knew from the start that we only wanted to do this if we could take proper care of the riders and create a positive experience for everyone. This allows us to do just that.\u2019<\/p>\n

Providing a platform for the riders<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Although riders are undoubtedly happy about the substantial stipends and prize money up for grabs at this year\u2019s race, Diaz explained that what everyone is most excited about is the live coverage. \u2018We\u2019re simply creating a platform for the riders to do their thing. I have no doubt that once people get the chance to actually watch women\u2019s racing, they\u2019ll be hooked.\u2019 She also explained that live coverage provides the opportunity to do more than just showcase the race, but also to generate interest in the lives and personalities of the women riding. \u2018These women all have incredible stories and they do more than just live and breathe cycling. We want to put them in the spotlight and let fans see who they really are.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\u00a9 2019 Colorado Classic presented by VF Corporation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n