Professional Cycling; Too Hard for Women…
Women’s Professional Cycling is still battling “old men” mentality but achieving the awareness, recognition and sponsorship that the sport deserves is slowly becoming easier with the onset of social media. Judith Arndt believes we’re onto a winner with our tweets, blogs and Facebook.
Judith Arndt’s career in medals and podiums is so extensive it’s difficult to pick even one or two career highlights. After spending 18 years either on the track or at the head of the peloton, there’s little she hasn’t won and provides invaluable insight into life in the women’s peloton. In her final season with team Orica-GreenEDGE, her years of experience make her a valuable leader and asset in the development of women’s cycling, passing her skills to the next generation.
This is what Judith had to say about some of the changes and some of the continued challenges in professional cycling 1999 to today.
Source: Orica-GreenEDGE http://www.greenedge.com.au
It is only in the last 15 years that women’s cycling has been recognised by the UCI as a professional sport, and in that time, there has been significant development of both sponsorship and the level of competition. So isn’t it about time the UCI took the next step forward and acknowledge women’s professional cycling with an understanding of what a minimum wage is?
“Now almost 15 years later we are still struggling with money, which is partly caused by all the doping scandals in men’s cycling in the recent past. Not many sponsors want to invest in cycling and unfortunately it doesn’t matter if you are male or female” remarks Arndt.
1 in 5 professional female riders in today’s peloton ride unpaid, without a salary; that’s no cash at all. How do you survive in a foreign country with no income? In this circumstance, riders are required to live under their own means, use their savings, have a part-time job when at home in the off-season, even loan money from family and friends. ‘Living the dream’ comes at a high personal cost when you don’t get paid. There are riders who are paid and who reportedly earn an average of around $25,000 per annum, or ~$2,083 per month. The lifestyle can be good, if you have personal sponsors providing you with nutrition, clothing, equipment, if you have somewhere cheap or free to live and a good network of cyclists and supportive people around you. If you’re doing it on your own, it’s just a tough slog off the bike and a tougher ride against Judith in the saddle!
“Ten years ago women’s cycling had just turned professional. The UCI had introduced the first women’s trade teams in 1999. So it had just started to be a professional sport and really everything was difficult” comments Arndt.
It’s not difficult to understand how true this is.
So what does the governing body of the sport have to say about all of this? In the eyes of UCI President, Pat McQuaid, the level of investment and sponsorship in Women’s cycling reflects the capability of the pro female peloton “Women’s cycling is just not developed enough yet that we are at that level yet”. Really Patrick? Pat probably won’t be winning women’s choice ‘most supportive man of the decade’ award anytime soon.
What level does the sport have to mature to in order for all riders to be paid a minimum wage? In the humble opinion of this writer (with backup from Bronzini, Tuetenberg, Vos (just to name a few)) the capability is already there! To achieve a minimum wage in the pro-peloton will take recognition in the form of sponsorship, media coverage and finally UCI endorsement (I feel a small riot outside Pat’s house would do nicely too).
Media coverage is essential, I would sleep longer and more consistently if I wasn’t always scanning twitter and obscure live-feeds online for race updates! Do you want to see more racing covered more often? Looks like we sport-crazed Australian’s are on the right track says Judith. Just yesterday I was delighted to see no less than 10 minutes spent following the Womens World Cup races in Drenthe and Cittiglio on CyclingCentral! Big shout out to SBS for that one!
“Overall [media coverage] has gotten better. It also depends which country we are talking about. I think traditional cycling nations (f.e. Belgium, Italy etc) are finding it harder to accept and to cover women’s cycling. ‘Newer’ countries to cycling (USA, Australia, Asia) are usually more open towards our end of the sport” comments Arndt.
Photo: © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl
Sponsorship will follow the media. [Due to the] introduction of World Tour teams (Orica-GreenEDGE, Rabobank, Cervelo, Highroad), the level of sponsorship for women’s cycling has increased. “The higher level of sponsorship leads to a higher level of performance, of course. If you get looked after by excellent staff, you use the very best equipment, you get a monthly salary, you can fly to the races instead of spending your travel days in a car… all those things make you go faster in the end, because all you have to do is focus on training and racing” reflects Arndt.
So what needs to happen for sustainable change in both the ‘old man’ mentality and the conditions for riders of the sport? Judith comments that social media is helping reach more cycling enthusiasts than ever before, is a great way to encourage potential sponsors and gain awareness for the female pro-peloton.
So what can you do? Come on people, demand media! Get involved through twitter, Facebook, visit the team sites, don’t be shy, get involved with your favourite riders! You can start by checking out the Orica-GreenEDGE website here and you can follow them on Twitter here.
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*Pictures supplied by Orica-GreenEDGE
I am so thrilled to see Women’s cycling gaining in popularity. It is sad to see the level of sponorship, both within the teams and the races, is so poor compared to mens. I never made it past masters racing, but always dreamed of doing so, and racing at the Tour de PEI – only to find out that both that UCI level race and the race at Montreal were cancelled – sad to see sponsorship pulling out, especially when so many of these women are self funded! Excited to have the women’s tour coming to my hometown next weekend – the race in Gatineau Quebec is shaping up to be an exciting one! We will be there to cheer the women on!
When you think life for women is becoming an even playing field and you look at the field, it clearly isn’t. SheRides Cycling will continue to work hard to provide stories of women who work hard and try hard, at all levels. Thanks for reading Anita, always good to see your comments… A masters racer? What’s the field like where you are?
Great article Claire! Well done. Hopefully the increasing social media presence of women’s cycling at all levels will get noticed.
Thanks G…Clav! Social media is one step closer to improving sponsorship and it can be done at a grass-roots level which is excellent. Thanks for reading, CH
First of all, I have to say that it is my first season that I follow women’s cycling a bit closer, especially on Twitter (@velowijf) It is a great article to read but ultimately it is always comming down to the same issues and are a repetition of earlier publications about the problems in women’s cycling I have already read. What I would like to know or would like to read, is a more detailed explanation on the 3 biggest subjects ( UCI – sponsorship – Tv coverage/exposure ) on this particular matter. To begin, UCI. Here I read this : “So isn’t it about time the UCI took the next step forward and acknowledge women’s professional cycling with an understanding of what a minimum wage is?” What I for ex. would like to know is, in witch way is the UCI involved with the wages of women’s cyclists? Is that regulation? Doesn’t the team decide the wage? Isn’t it the sponsor of the team that pays? Like to hear more … !?
Hi Velowijf,
Thanks for reading our article, we follow you closely on twitter so its good to see some solidarity amongst the social media set.
Regarding solutions; The UCI can help women’s cycling by implementing a deadline for minimum wage, that way teams have time to develop strategy to drive sponsorship and market themselves more successfully.
The intention of the article is to raise awareness of this issue through our readership. The key message of the article was to driving social media involvement from all who care to be involved. Persona such as yourself are doing exactly what Judith believes is helping women’s pro cycling.
Thanks for reading,
Claire
By allowing women to have professional racing in the first place the UCI is ultimately responsible for fairness amongst the profession. They should have known that they would be responsible for the women’s ranks when they made them professionals.
This includes women’s wages; they implemented a minimum wage for the men’s peloton, why not for the women’s as well, some women aren’t getting paid at all, it could/would be sensible to say put the minimum wage at 20,000 Euro’s, we already know that many don’t get paid and that the budgets of these teams can be minimal, so let’s make the amount achievable, increase it gradually over time as teams progress and grow.
Let’s talk to marketing companies about sponsoring these cycling teams and teaching them how to market themselves on a more professional level, teach them how to connect with people, fans and the companies supplying the product.
Pat McQuaid says that women’s cycling is not ready for a minimum wage, perhaps they’re ready for a plan that will outline the next five years in which then end result will be a minimum wage.
The big problem women’s professional cycling has is that the governing body is saying no, we need the governing body to investigate the current situation, run full reporting on the teams and find exactly what needs to be done to turn the situation around.
This isn’t about pointing at someone and saying, “why should they have to implement the ruling.” It’s about someone taking initiative and we’re calling on the governing body of cycling to do that.
I know its expensive, but why don’t the ladies get organised and leave the UCI. I know that probably would be a more difficult route to take – but ultimately women need to take control. I am new to road cycling, raced a few criteriums in tassie and there is not much out there for the girls. But ultimately its up to us. The locals will put on women’s races if there are enough women racing at grass roots level. For the pros out there now – I completely agree women need equity in salary if the UCI can’t deliver – and lets face it they don’t provide much support – then go it alone.
Maybe women should have races on at the same time as the men’s – same day half an hour earlier or later then the men. Then the support is already there. At all levels – including the Neo-pros. It looks like the U23s (boys) have more opportunities to race then women – surely this is wrong?
At the same time – fantastic to see that teams like Orica Green-edge, Cervolo, HTC etc supporting ladies cycling. Why can’t this be a fundamental rule of cycling. Why don’t SKY have a women’s team?
Its easy from the couch making suggestions about individual’s livelihoods, and if i had daughters i would certainly like them to have the same opportunities in life as my keen cycling sons have.
I think the UCI must enforce a minimum wage. It is terrible to think that 20% of the top riders are getting nothing and have to fund themselves (of course working eats into training and recovery time which won’t enhance their performances at all). Some of the men are on 6-figure sums (or am I being naive?) and the domestiques are on 40-60K – do they race harder? Sweat harder? Commit more? No. In so many ways these female pros are doing more for less – holding down a job, and racing at a top level, getting lower prize money and lower wage. Equality? My padded shorts!
The trouble is that without more financial support it is difficult to see how the peloton can grow. How many cycling talents will be wondering whether to follow their cycling dreams or to use their degrees to live financially independent lives? (Let’s face it most female sports people are also highly educated and qualified as well – all round high achievers – you have to be 3x as good to be equal and even then you are not.) Emma Pooley (one of the very best in the world), former national and world champion, Olympic medalist, was considering packing it in to concentrate on her scientific career given that cycling as a even top female cyclist is full of uncertainty. The top men don’t have to worry about this. They will make enough out of cycling and advertising. (Not as much as a UK footballer, a US baseball player or a Aussie cricketer maybe but they’ll be OK.)
There has to be support for women so that racing professionally can be a viable option for women. I think making it difficult for women to race professionally at an international level does nothing to encourage women to aspire to ride at the highest levels nationally (in the UK there is little support to do that either), and this stiffles grassroots competition. Hell I didn’t even see a women’s UCI race footage until 2011 and that was on Youtube – I now watch them all the time whilst turbo training because nothing inspires me more. (Try it and boost their hit rate – show the world there is an audience.)
I believe that the UCI are in a position to enforce a minimum wage. I wonder why a 5 year plan and why 20,000EUR? I’m impatient and would like whatever men have – NOW! (Seems ridiculous that we are not there already. I understand the not scaring off the sponsors argument. I just find it hard to swallow when it comes to the large sponsors of men’s teams – HTC, Rabo (formerly), Garmin (formerly), etc). What would it take to get a petition together to send to the UCI?
Why don’t SKY have a women’s team? Good question and one asked by London 2012 Olympic silver medallist Lizzie Armistead and others. Considering the UK has the twice under 23 world champion, former world champions, silver and gold Olympic medalists, the Trott sisters, the majority of the former AA Leotien team, N.Cooke, N.Harris and a whole host of top national riders who could be developed it isn’t lack of talent.
Another question is why doesn’t the UK host a UCI women’s race? We manage to hold a few men’s races – surely, apart from putting potpourri in the toilets, the organisation is the same.
I feel that British Cycling’s support of women’s racing is very similar to that of the UCI’s. Anecdotes on request.
I am all for women taking control, but I don’t know any with the power and money to sponsor a team. This may also be because top earning women are also a rare breed. Even with my team, we can’t club together to put on a race/put up a prize we are too few and any spare cash goes on getting inner tubes!
We have a long way to go. Right now we can lobby cycling websites and get them to post women’s racing reports and results – and not just under the fat man’s race – in their own right. Tell them it is important. Show them there is an audience. It’s a first pedal stroke in the right direction.