Susan B. Anthony famously said that bicycling “has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world,” but emancipation doesn’t mean equality, and the exclusive, testosterone-drenched world of cycling has been slow to evolve.
Despite the fact that women have been cycling competitively at the Olympic level since 1984, female professional cyclists receive short shrift in the male-dominated sport, and while the disparity is most evident at the professional level, it leeches into every aspect of the sport, from mechanical maintenance to Sunday rides.
This summer, the Tour of Montana will exact a dose of two-wheeled parity on bicycle riding and racing with an inaugural event featuring a mass-start ride, three days of professional racing, and a host of festivities and rides across western Montana.
Sponsored by the Women’s Cycling Association, the Tour of Montana is a four-day series of professional road races to be held July 16-19 in Missoula, with an all-women’s ride to promote the event and encourage female cyclists in Whitefish June 19.
According to Tour of Montana Executive Director Nicole Adamson, not only will the Tour be the first multiday professional road race in Montana, it will also be one of the only races in the world to offer men and women the same purse, the same sponsored media coverage and the same challenging course.
“That’s the trifecta that makes this a unique, new format,” Adamson said. “Cycling is a sport steeped in tradition, but women have always been a presence. A big turning point came in 1984 when we were allowed to ride in the Olympics, but the focus has always centered on the men.”
To celebrate the women of the sport, and to foster a culture of cycling among women, the Femme/Velo – French for “women” and “bicycle,” respectively – is an all-women’s 100-km and 50-km mass-start, recreational bicycle ride. It is one of the premier events leading up to the Tour of Montana in July, which will eventually evolve into a full statewide stage race that includes the Flathead Valley.
Inga Thompson, an Olympian, U.S. national champion and world championship medalist, will be on hand for the ride, as will veteran pro rider and CEO of the Women’s Cycling Association, Robin Farina, who helped start the Tour of Montana with an eye toward developing events in which men and women compete equally, in much the same way that professional tennis is structured.
“Our goal is to help women’s cycling make a comeback because somehow it gets lost,” Adamson said. “Certainly with the [Women’s Cycling Association] we are on the cusp again, but there needs to be greater awareness. The sport is so accessible, it shouldn’t be gender specific.”
The concept for the Tour of Montana was born of a Femme/Velo ride that Adamson organized in Hamilton, where she lives, and while interviewing Frena for an article they started talking about creating an event in which men and women ride together. On a visit to Whitefish, Adamson rode with a group of women’s cyclists who dub themselves the “Biking Betties,” and realized the area’s potential to host an event.
Broadening the sport’s horizons extends beyond professional racing, Adamson said, and should appeal to recreational riders who might feel intimidated by the rarefied culture of cycling.
“We want to create an atmosphere in which women feel comfortable,” she said. “It’s about showing women that they are connected to a bigger picture, and encourage them to get out and ride their bikes, either because they love the sport or because they’re looking for a healthier lifestyle.”
One of the event’s sponsors, Whitefish Bike Retreat owner Cricket Butler, came on board because the avid endurance cyclist saw an opportunity to capitalize on the Tour of Montana’s publicity and shine light on the formidable culture of females riding bikes in the Flathead.
“When I found out about the Femme/Velo, of course I was excited because I’m a cyclist and I’m a woman,” Butler said. “It’s been a male-dominated field and I raced in it for years, and I’m a huge advocate for empowering women in cycling.”
In conjunction with the Biking Betties, Butler has hosted events at her retreat along the Whitefish Trail designed to cater to women, be it a bike-maintenance clinic or an all women’s ride.
“A lot of women rely on their husbands or partners to take care of issues that arise with their bikes, and we want to empower women to have that knowledge and take care of their bikes on their own,” she said. “It’s about giving them the confidence to know what to do. We have a very supportive environment in the Flathead, and usually people leave these clinics with new friends and riding partners.”
For more information on the Tour of Montana and the Femme/Velo, check out the website at www.tourofmontana.org.