British Cycling ‘On Track’ to Meet Women’s Participation Targets
October 17, 2013
British Cycling are on track to meet their target of getting one million more women cycling by 2020. The announcement follows the publication of a six month update on the governing body’s women’s strategy, revealing that around 106,000 women have taken part in British Cycling programmes so far this year.
British Cycling’s Chief Executive, Ian Drake, said: “In the six months since we launched our strategy we’ve made some great progress and our plan to get one million more women cycling over the next seven years is firmly on track. We’ve got some fantastic headline figures that we’re announcing today. They show that there are thousands of women who want to ride recreationally – a big win for our partnership with Sky, especially the fact that over a third of the 100,000 women we’ve engaged so far this year was through Sky Ride. There is also a real appetite for women to get into racing or to try personal challenge rides. 24,000 women have taken part in British Cycling sportives so far this year and our female member base has increased by 19% since we launched our strategy.
“The introduction of the Women’s Tour from next year can only build momentum further. We know that British Cycling has a long journey ahead to change the culture of our sport but we are heading in the right direction.”
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Maria Miller, added: “It’s fantastic that British Cycling’s women’s strategy has got off to a flying start. The approach to promote both recreational cycling as well as sportives to women is clearly paying off. With great role models such as Laura Trott and Becky James, an increase in women’s races, a Women’s Tour announced and more female coaches coming through, the sport is in a great position to keep up this momentum.”