British Cycling has announced that it has reached its target of getting one million more women on bikes by 2020.
In 2013, the organisation set out its women’s strategy, which was designed to “inspire one million more women to ride, race and be part of British Cycling” by this year. At that time, its data showed there were 550,000 women who regularly cycled.
Since this drive to encourage more women to give cycling a try, the organisation revealed that 1,023,271 more women have given cycling a go.
British Cycling pointed out that it’s not just about having encouraged more women to get in the saddle, but also about the growth in events aimed at women as well as getting more women involved with governing the sport.
Juile Harrington, British Cycling chief executive, stressed that hitting this milestone doesn’t mean work to encourage more women into the sport will end.
“We know that there is still a huge amount of work to be done to ensure that cycling, and sport in general, is seen as truly equal, but we are incredibly proud to have reached this stage,” she asserted.
There’s plenty of inspiration for women to get into mountain biking, with Britain’s Tahnee Seagrave taking the silver medal in the downhill competition in last year’s Mountain Biking World Championship.
It was her third World Championship medal, having also won silver in 2018’s event. No doubt she’ll be setting her sights on gold in 2020.
If you love the idea of mountain biking but aren’t sure where to start, sign up for beginner’s mountain bike coaching to develop your confidence and get you out on the trails.