Three West Yorkshire Women Included In Cycling UK’s 100 Women In Cycling

Two female cyclists from West Yorkshire are riding alongside sporting star Lizzie Deignan into Cycling UK’s 100 Women in Cycling. Susan Sanders and Kirsty Midgley are in great company with Otley’s own world champion Lizzie.

Susan began cycling with her husband on mountain biking trails. After discovering a love of road riding, she joined her local club and began entering time-trials and triathlons. After having equipment stolen and then being badly knocked off her bike by a car, Susan's confidence was shaken. But she got back on her bike and she also put her efforts into getting newer riders and more women to join.

(3)When Kirsty turned 40 she decided to mark the milestone by taking on 40 different challenges. Quickly she took on the challenge of participating in a triathlon and then the London to Paris ride. The trip changed her life and she realised she wanted cycling to be a big part of her future. Since then she has hosted Let's Ride Pop Up events in Leeds and become a Breeze ride leader.

Lizzie Deignan is an English professional world champion track and road racing cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Women's WorldTeam Trek–Segafredo. She was the 2015 World road race champion and the 2014 Commonwealth Games road race champion. Lizzie is also a twice winner of the season-long UCI Women's Road World Cup, winning the overall competition in 2014 and the final edition in 2015. Lizzie has also featured in Cycling UK’s women talk show series Bants, Bikes & Being Female.

Other famous names on the list include four-time Olympic gold medal winner Laura Kenny CBE and Olympic gold-medallist Nicole Cooke MBE plus TV presenter and personality, Gail Porter.

The women have all been recognised in celebration of the amazing work they have done to promote cycling and inspire others to get on their bikes as part of the national cycling charity’s Women’s Festival of Cycling which runs until the end of July.

Although the number of women cycling has increased during lockdown, men are still cycling nearly twice as much as women. The Women’s Festival of Cycling aims to address that imbalance by inspiring more women to get in the saddle.

Other well-known names who have made the list include Paralympian Hannah Dines, who opened the conversation about female saddle pain after having to undergo labial surgery; Isabeau Courdurier, the youngest women to have won the Enduro World Series; and cycle touring author Bettina Selby. The list also includes less well-known names who have been working tirelessly at grassroots level to encourage more women to ride. People like Susan and Kirsty.

"There are so many amazing inspirational stories every weekend about how cycling has changed a life, a day, a mood I absolutely love being part of their journey,” said Kirsty.

Helen Cook, Cycling UK’s head of engagement, said: “Every woman on our list is an incredible ambassador for women’s cycling, and with the surge in interest in cycling over the past few months we want to make sure women continue to get on their bikes and more women join them.

“During the festival we are asking women who cycle to share pictures of their rides with us using the hashtag #BeYouByBike to show the fun, freedom and adventure we can all have on a bike.”

Gail Porter said: “I absolutely love cycling; I love it to bits. I wouldn’t be without my bike. “When I get on my bike, with no idea where I’m going, it just makes me feel really happy. My bike is like my little sanctuary.”

The Women’s Festival of Cycling takes place from 11 to 31 July and includes fun interactive talks aimed at women.

To find out more about the festival and to see a full list of nominees, visit our website: https://www.cyclinguk.org/womensfestival