Across the UK there are many pioneers, trailblazers and passionate advocates making cycling more accessible for women at every level.
In this article, we celebrate some of the game-changing initiatives helping more women and girls to get involved, from ambassador programs and innovative event formats to vital support like free childcare at races. These efforts have been years in the making, and they’re shaping a more inclusive future for the sport.
Read on to hear more about:
- our Girls’ Ambassador pilot programme supporting coaches, clubs and events
- cycle speedway seeing the strength and depth of women’s racing level up
- coaching courses with The Well HQ for those who engage with developing female riders
- event formats changing the game for women and girls in BMX freestyle
- affordable racing with childcare support in Bath
- the Let’s Ride and HerSpirit partnership creating a supportive community for all levels.
- the #TimeTogether campaign from Women In Sport that starts next week
Girls' Ambassadors: supporting coaches to create inclusive spaces
Earlier in the year we launched the Girls’ Ambassador Summer Pilot programme with one goal: supporting coaches in creating more inclusive environments for female riders. Ten ambassadors were selected from across the UK and trained by The Well HQ. Since May, these ambassadors have been visiting clubs, attending competitions, and hosting online sessions.
Just one of the amazing events that took place was the Supporting Female Riders Workshop at the National Cycle Centre in September. Great British Cycling Team riders Josie Knight and Sophie Unwin shared their experiences, alongside expert advice.
Eve Nicholson, Education Programme Support Officer and leader of the project, said: “The workshop created a supportive space for female riders to thrive. The more coaches and riders can expand their knowledge, and understand how to support female athletes, the stronger our sport becomes.”
As the programme comes to a close, a report will be compiled based on the data they’ve collected over the summer. This will help us dive deeper into the impact of this initiative and guide the future of inclusivity in cycling.
Cycle speedway growth: women’s racing out in front
This year has been monumental for women in cycle speedway, marked by impressive achievements both nationally and internationally. Women’s participation in racing continues to grow, combining the experience of seasoned riders with emerging talent to raise the competition standard.
Charlie Jane Herbert, former British champion and manager of GB and England ladies, notes, “In my 20 years in the sport, the women’s and girls’ categories have made the most progress. Their racing is just as good, and many say it’s been the season’s highlight. It means we have a bright future ahead, not only in Britain, but also in international racing. We head to the worlds next year, in the UK, and we have a strong chance of walking away world champions.”
It’s a feeling echoed by the riders, too. Elizabeth Rigley, England vice-captain, reflects: “Racing is inspiring younger girls, showing they can achieve big things. Athletes are training harder, bringing professionalism to the sport!”. While Maddie Saunders, British Women’s Champion for the second year running, adds, “Cycle Speedway is more than racing; it’s about camaraderie. Any girls considering the sport should jump in - it’s a supportive community where friendships and success go hand in hand.”
Groundbreaking coaching courses: supporting female riders
We are three months into our partnership with The Well HQ, with an innovative course designed for coaches supporting young female riders, in collaboration with Well HQ’s Dr. Emma Ross, GBCT’s Senior Physiologist Dr. Briar Rudsits, and British Cycling’s talent coach Tiffany Fletcher. The courses cover: Menstrual Cycle, Female-Specific Kit, Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), and Environment and Culture. These areas focus on understanding the unique challenges faced by young female cyclists and creating a supportive coaching environment.
This marks an important step forward for British Cycling in enhancing the coaching landscape for female athletes. Courses focusing on topics such as pregnancy, postnatal support and menopause will follow, ensuring female riders receive the guidance they deserve.
Jo Howson, Head of Education, said “We have had fantastic interest and engagement from the breadth of the sporting community, from grassroots to high level performance. There is a real recognition around the importance of the knowledge we are sharing. We look forward to further developments in this area”
Explore the course and register
BMX freestyle participation surges: new formats and categories drive engagement
This year has seen encouraging growth in participation in the National Series, marking a welcome positive shift. In 2022, women represented just 11% of competitors, increasing to 12.6% in 2023. Now, in 2024, a notable leap to 18.3% - and the season is still ongoing!
One of the key developments has been the introduction of video rounds (watch this example from Round 4). This innovative format allows riders to submit their performances online, significantly improving accessibility for many. Kayley Todd expressed, “The video rounds are perfect for people who can’t attend events or feel anxious riding in front of big audiences. This format removes that pressure, and it works so well.”
Another advancement in 2024 is the introduction of the Amateur Female Park category. This offers a vital space for riders to develop skills and confidence at their own pace. Sam Anderson highlighted: “Creating amateur events for women is crucial. It allows riders like me to showcase our abilities and build confidence without the added pressure of competing at an elite level. It gives every woman a platform to shine, no matter her age or experience.”
The Under-15 Female category saw more entries than the Under-15 Open, a promising sign of BMX’s growing appeal to young girls. Together, initiatives like video rounds, the Amateur Female Park category, and increased youth participation show a strong commitment to making BMX more inclusive and equitable for women and girls at all levels.
If you’d like to participate in upcoming competitions, check out the Round 5 Backyard Jam!
Bath Cycling Club innovates with free childcare and early bird entries
Bath Cycling Club has run a Women’s National B Road Race for two years. After the inaugural event, organisers asked riders what would encourage them to come back - and the feedback was clear. Valued most was certainty that the race would take place, along with lower entry fees.
As sponsorship wasn’t secured, the Club stepped in to subsidise entry and offered a half price option if you entered more than six weeks before the race. Which not only made it more affordable but also encouraged early entries, creating momentum to ensure there were sufficient entries for the race to go ahead.
But that’s not all! Organiser David Stoyle spoke of an innovative service the event was able to provide: “Another major initiative was our partnership with FTP Racing, a local team that champions women’s cycling. They know that childcare can be a significant barrier for many women. We were thrilled to offer free childcare during the event, thanks to FTP Racing’s sponsorship and the experience of Alieyah, who is training in early years childcare. The service ensured riders could focus on their race knowing their children were in safe hands.”
Let’s Ride and Her Spirit collaboration: building a supportive community
In case you missed it, earlier this year we proudly announced an exciting collaboration with Her Spirit, who launched a digital cycling club for women of all levels. This initiative aims to empower women to embrace cycling as a fun, accessible, and confidence-boosting activity, whilst providing them with valuable resources and engaging community challenges.
Joanne Rea, Community Programmes Manager, said: “Together, we share a joint vision to inspire more women to discover the joy of cycling and to create vibrant, supportive communities that empower women through cycling.”
#TimeTogether Campaign: connecting women across generations through sport
Sport can provide women and girls with resilience, courage, self-belief, and a sense of belonging. However, many women and teenage girls still face significant barriers to staying active. That’s why we’ve once again partnered with Women In Sport for their #TimeTogether campaign, which we’ll be celebrating next week!
The campaign invites mothers, daughters, grandmothers, aunts, and nieces to connect across generations by getting active, seeking adventure, experiencing joy, feeling empowered, whilst discovering a new sport.
Over the past month, we’ve been capturing footage from our members and reviewing the wonderful content submitted—a big thank you to everyone who has contributed!
Keep an eye on our socials next week to find out how you can take part in #TimeTogether, running from 21st October to 1st November.
The progress in women’s cycling today is the result of years of dedication from passionate people who’ve worked hard to make the sport more inclusive. Initiatives like these are transforming the sport for the better.
If you’re involved in something similar, or know of other initiatives, be sure to inform your regional sport developer - together, we can continue driving this progress forward.
