WCA: A Vision for Change
The timeline of professional cycling has bridged three centuries, and the history of the sport has been colored by some legendary figures with a remarkable list of accomplishments, and by some dubious characters who have succumbed to illicit behavior. It has been dogged by two World Wars, and has been fighting an ongoing battle against doping and a much maligned leadership. And yet, it continues to thrive. The sport itself has expanded to the continents of Asia and Africa, not to mention the increase in revenue drawn from the most popular races on European soil. Even as current history may be casting a bit of a cloud over some of the legends and their palmares, the sport no doubt continues to thrill and excite riders, promoters, fans and sponsors. Having participated as a racer, rider and a fan, I firmly believe there is no sport more exciting to see live than professional cycling. And by professional cycling, I speak of men’s and women’s racing. And while the history of the women’s pro peloton as an established entity barely spans half a dozen Olympic Games, it is no less important and no less significant. Lest someone speak of women’s racing as boring, they have never seen the women race the Tour of Flanders live, or caught a stage of Redlands, or the Tour of the Gila. There is plenty to learn when one takes a look in the rear view mirror, yet in the case of women’s cycling in the United States, the view is hazy, brief, and frankly, shameful. This is what former U.S. National Champion Robin Farina noticed, and decided it was finally time to change that view with a new vision for the future of women’s cycling. Read More
