Focus on the Women's World Cycling Championship

The Women's Cycling World Championship is one of the greatest women's cycling competitions. Do you know the ins and outs? Races, records, iconic champions... Ekoï tells you everything about the Women's Road and Time Trial World Championships.

What is the Women's Cycling World Championship?

As its name implies, the Women's Road Cycling World Championship is a high-level competition where the best cyclists from the international peloton compete. It takes place at the same time as the Men's World Championships.

The very first women's cycling competition in world championships was held in 1958, in Reims (compared to 1927 for the men). Since then, 60 editions have been organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). The host country changes every year.

Like the Olympics, the riders wear outfits in their nation's colors, as the championship is raced by national teams.

From September 19 to 26, 2021, women and men alike will battle for the world title in Flanders (Belgium).

The Women's Rainbow Jersey

Every year, the prestigious rainbow jersey goes to the reigning world champion. She has the honor and the duty to wear it in all her future races until it is put back on the line the following year.

All women who have ever been crowned gold at the Worlds can wear the rainbow bands on the sleeves of their jersey. And this, for life, in memory of their achievement.

The Events of the Women's Road Cycling World Championship

The competition takes place over several days and includes various 100% women's events:

• Elite Road Race: the riders pedal on a course similar to the one used by the men, but over a shortened distance of about 150 km.

• Elite Individual Time Trial: this event was introduced to the championship in 1994 and is raced against the clock.

• Junior Road Race.

• Junior Time Trial.

There are no women's cycling events in the U23 (under 23) category.

Since 2019, a new time trial event brings together a trio of women and a trio of men in the competition. This is the mixed relay team time trial.

The development of professional women's cycling has allowed over the years to extend the distance of the women's road race. The profile of the circuit, more or less hilly, changes with each edition. Depending on the terrain, it thus favors either sprinters, climbers, or punchers!

Previously, women competed in other formats, now defunct. This was the case for the women's team time trial, and then the women's branded team time trial.

Jeannie Longo, the French Star of the Worlds

The French cyclist Jeannie Longo, a key figure in French cycling, is a true legend of the Women's Cycling World Championship. She has accumulated no less than 9 world titles, making her the record holder for victories. Five-time road world champion, four-time time trial world champion, Jeannie Longo certainly earned her nickname of "Terminator"!

An incredible performance for Jeannie Longo, who enters the circle of women who have made history in cycling. Thanks to these exploits, the rider propels France to 2nd place in the medal table by country for the road race, and 4th place for the TT.

Palmarès: Women's Road Cycling World Champions

The Luxembourger Elsy Jacobs is none other than the historic winner of the first edition of the championships. Cyclists Yvonne Reynders (Belgium) and more recently Marianne Vos (Netherlands), closely follow Jeannie Longo with 4 and 3 rainbow jerseys respectively. Other notable names include Anna Konkina, Leontien van Moorsel, Susanne Ljungskog, Giorgia Bronzini, Beryl Burton, Keetie van Oosten-Hage, Geneviève Gambillon, and Anna van der Breggen, the reigning champion (2020). All were crowned twice.

Among the great women, we find the German Ute Enzenauer, who holds the age record: in 1981, she became the youngest road world champion at the age of 16 years, 11 months, and 29 days. The Dutch Annemiek van Vleuten, on the other hand, is the oldest champion to date (36 years, 11 months, and 20 days).

Palmarès: Women's Time Trial World Champions

The TT competitions are the playground of American and Dutch riders, with 7 gold medals for each of the two nations. A dominance confirmed in 2021, as Ellen van Dijk clinches the second world crown of her career ahead of Marlen Reusser and Annemiek van Vleuten.

Behind the unmatched Jeannie Longo and her 4 titles, other women share the spotlight: Judith Arndt (Germany), Kristin Armstrong (USA), Karin Thürig (Switzerland), Amber Neben (USA), Annemiek van Vleuten (Netherlands), and Leontien van Moorsel (Netherlands). These renowned cyclists have twice stood atop the podium of the Women's TT World Championship.

You are now a master in Women's Cycling World Championships! How about learning more about the Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale or the Route de France Féminine?