06
The final podium from the 2014 Friends Life Womens Tour.
When I think back to the season that we’ve seen so far in women’s cycling, it’s been anything but an anti-climax. The Tour of Britain was a roaring success with Britons lining the albeit rather flat streets of the UK. The riders loved it, the teams fought hard and the TV coverage was comprehensive. Followed up by The Matrix Fitness Grand Prix where despite below par coverage, the step up in competition was immense. But, coverage is coverage. And, the racing spoke for itself. The Nationals were a who’s who of Great British talent; Armitstead, Pooley, Barnes, Archibald, Trott and the other noticeable Under 23s who will almost certainly be dominating the scene in the next few years. Arguably, British girls have been given a pretty good run for our money on the world circuit, but let’s not deny them the applause they all deserve for going out on the attack, something that women’s cycling is often criticised for having a lack of.