Published January 18, 2021 03:33AM
French federation issues licenses to top pro women
French women's WorldTour road racers successfully pushed for pro licenses.
ASSISI, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 13: Peloton / Landscape / Fans / Public / during the 31st Giro d'Italia Internazionale Femminile 2020, Stage 3 a 142,2km stage from Santa Fiora to Assisi 413m / @GiroRosaIccrea / #GiroRosa / on September 13, 2020 in Assisi, Italy. (Photo by Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
Top French women road cyclists now have pro licenses and all the benefits that come with them.
The French Cycling Federation confirmed that as of January 15, the 15 French cyclists in the Women’s WorldTour (WTT) will receive pro licenses for the first time. The milestone is not only important for women’s racing in France, but it also provides official recognition under France’s safety net, including health insurance.
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Current cyclists who will benefit from these rules include the FDJ Vienne-Futuroscope women’s world tour team, French National road champion Audrey Cordon-Ragot (Trek Segafredo), 2020 time trial national champion Juliette Labous (Team DSM), Roxanne Fournier (SD Worx), Aude Biannic (Movistar Team), and all future French WWT riders.
“The French Cycling Federation is delighted to recognize the stature of French women cyclists in World Tour Teams as professional by issuing them professional licenses,” said FFC president Michel Callot. This is another important step forward in the development of the professional structure of women’s cycling.”
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The licenses came in part from a push by the Association Française des Coureures Cyclists (AFCC) since 2019, with support from CPA Women.
“I’m glad we have managed to achieve our first goal as a young association,” Cordon-Ragot said. “This may look small, but it’s a big step for women’s cycling in France.”
