Above: Cathy Carstens and Lisa Vermaak

Le Femme

I have not known many exceptional cyclists that are female, personally that is, but to me the most elegant and my favourite has to be Leontien ZIJLAARD-Van Moorsel of the Netherlands.

Those pink nails and those pouting full lips were to make any man want to watch her race.

Now that I’ve written that it ‘kinda’ sounds sexist but it is not my intention, she was worth every one of her pedal strokes.

Over the years as I raced in South Africa the women were never quite good enough and maybe I should say it wasn’t for lack of trying.

Today there are a few really good ones and in the South African Team MTN Energade has been nurturing the likes of Miriske Straus, C. Slingerland, Chrissie Viljoen, Carla Swart, Marissa v.d Merwe, Cherise Taylor, Lerissa Kleinmann and M. Nicholson.

With their talent and the keen eye of Douglas Ryder I am sure we will see great things as in the case of Robert Hunter.

In the early years the only real female cyclist who raced with us use to be Cathy Carstens and at least her, I knew. Today at 45 years of age she is still involved with the sport and isn’t that grand?

 In this photo: Frederika Frick, Mayr Haw, Maroesjka Matthee, Leanne Brown-Watson, Cathy Carstens (photo), Tania Myburg

 Since we have a few females/women following this blog it is only fitting that I write about their part in the sport.

I am no ‘fundi’ when it comes to knowledge in their department of cycling and the women that I know of who is following this blog are not even cyclist themselves. How is that for a feather in our cap regarding the world of cycling?  I think it’s pretty neat to say the least.

Whenever I am driving in my automobile and I pass two or three women cyclist I get so excited just to know there are actually women out there who are serious about the sport and even the ones who are just keeping fit.

My wife Gail Engelbrecht has never owned a bike in her life up until just recently. That is really sad as every child should grow up with a bike and not just boys.

After many years of supporting me in my sport all over the world and also helping many cyclists whom I have mentioned on this blog she has finally joined me buying herself a mountain bike and riding with me in the forests of Brisbane.

Ok, enough nepotism, back to cycling, laughs out loud!

Cathy Carstens, Tandi Russell, Beverly Adams, Bragidda and Karen Proctor who cycled for Peninsula cycles are some of the women whom I share memories with from the old days. Just recently I saw a photograph on Facebook of Elizabeth Syndercombe courtesy of Craig Northam in England and I recognized her immediately, what marvelous memories they bring back taking us back to planet fabulon.

Today there are a string of new girls, both in South Africa and abroad, wonderful!

This article was not extensive but in no means is it intended to devalue the part that women play in the greatest sport in the world…….cycling.

Un grandioses merci vous que vous êtes ici!