The Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l’Ardèche has become one of the premier women’s bike races. Since its first edition in 2003, èlite cyclists and teams have used its long climbs in the Alpes Maritimes and high-octane sprints in the Rhône and Ardèche valleys as late-season preparation for the World Championships, held in late September. The race has also served as a window to up-and-coming riders and teams.
That is why it’s significant that Ayesha McGowan is making her debut in this year’s edition of the race, which begins today. For years, she has ridden for teams of the Liv brand in the US. On 1 August, she was promoted to Liv’s top-tier racing team, which competes internationally.
Understandably, for McGowan, “there will be tears of joy” because “the hard work is now paying off.” Last year, Cyclingnews named her to its Power List of the 50 Most Influential People in cycling.
She was named to that list for, not only her cycling accomplishments, but also her advocacy for more diversity in the sport’s brands, organizations, teams, events and media. If I were her, I might be crying other kinds of tears for having the need to call for more inclusion, a century and a quarter after Major Taylor won the World Championship and was acknowledged (if at times grudgingly or even with hostility) as the world’s greatest cyclist.
