Women's Continued Exclusion

Despite social progress elsewhere, women remained excluded from Tour participation. Arguments about female fragility, logistical complications, and commercial viability perpetuated discrimination. Female cyclists organized their own events, receiving minimal media coverage and negligible sponsorship. The golden age's shine didn't extend to half the population.

The Hidden History

Women's cycling achievements during this period remain largely undocumented. Beryl Burton in Britain, Yvonne Reynders in Belgium, and others achieved performances that would have been competitive in men's racing. Their exclusion from the Tour meant exclusion from cycling's mainstream narrative. This absence impoverished the sport, denying it talents and perspectives that could have enriched its development.

Some women found ways to participate peripherally. Female journalists began covering the Tour, bringing different perspectives to race reporting. Women worked in team support roles, though rarely in visible positions. These pioneers, operating in male-dominated environments, laid groundwork for future progress while enduring discrimination that ranged from condescension to outright hostility.