Beyond the Athletes: Women in the Tour Ecosystem

While riders represent most visible struggle for inclusion, women have fought for recognition throughout the Tour ecosystem. Female journalists faced press room discrimination. Women mechanics and soigneurs encountered skepticism about their competence. Female team directors navigated masculine networks resistant to their authority.

Breaking Press Barriers

Early female cycling journalists faced explicit discrimination. Press rooms banned women. Interview access was restricted. Male colleagues questioned their knowledge and commitment. Pioneers like Francoise Gaudin and Susan Wiles persisted, gradually earning respect through expertise and professionalism. Their presence normalized women in cycling media, paving way for today's female commentators and analysts.

Support Staff Struggles

Women in technical roles faced particular challenges. The masculine culture of professional cycling made integration difficult for female mechanics, soigneurs, and coaches. They had to prove competence repeatedly while navigating inappropriate comments and exclusion from informal networks where real decisions occurred. Those who persevered often became exceptionally skilled, needing superiority to achieve equality.