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British Cycling’s Breeze network has introduced new longer distance cycling events, set to begin this October.
Breeze ChallengeEvents will offer a 50km and a longer 100km bike ride for women seeking an accessible introduction to riding more challenging distances.
In partnership with Coventry City Council, Preston City Council and Pennine Events, the first planned rides take place in Warwickshire and Lancashire.
Fresh from riding the first ever Friends Life Women’s Tour, Breeze ambassador and Olympic silver medallist, Lizzie Armitstead lent her support at the Breeze ChallengeEvents launch.
She said: “The Breeze network has done fantastic work over the past four years creating an outlet for women of all abilities to come together and share in the joy of cycling.
“Breeze Challenge Events are the perfect next step for those who want to train and prepare for something different and will be an important platform for showcasing that women’s cycling is on a par with the men’s field at all levels.”
The announcement comes with women’s cycling on the up as British Cycling continues to implement its strategy to get one million more women cycling by 2020. The Breeze network has been a key factor in this success according to fellow Breeze ambassador and track cycling World and European medallist, Jess Varnish.
She said: “It’s great to see so many women across the UK who have taken up cycling through Breeze and are continuing to ride and encourage others to do the same. It’s fantastic that their participation means a new event series can be introduced and I’m sure the Breeze champions and participants will welcome it with open arms.”
For full details on how to be one of the first to register, sign up to the Breeze newsletter here: http://po.st/BreezeChallenge
