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Victoria Pendleton for Halfords
Victoria Pendleton with her new Halfords range of bikes
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Macmillan’s Surrey Cycletta: Victoria Pendleton
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Victoria Pendleton
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Victoria Pendleton in the Guildford Magazine
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Victoria Pendleton in the Woking Magazine
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Victoria Pendleton in the Farnham Magazine
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Victoria Pendleton in the Surrey Downs Magazine
Ahead of the Macmillan Cycletta next month, Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton speaks to Emily Horton about why she’s bringing pedal power to the ladies of Surrey
In a world where 81% of women feel that female athletes are better role models than other celebrities, it’s demoralizing to learn that in the UK, women’s sports receive just 5% of media coverage and a paltry 0.4% of sponsorship deals.
Disappointing doesn’t cover it. Unsatisfactory, inadequate, depressing… The figures are astonishing given the number of hugely successful female athletes. The British woman’s place in sport has never been so strong, determined and impressive. So where is the support?
Enter Victoria Pendleton – Britain’s original darling of the Olympic Velodrome. If the multiple medal-winning champion cyclist has anything to do with it, attitudes to women’s sports can no longer get away with paying mere lip service. Having conquered the world stage and then retired after the London 2012 games, the former sprint cyclist is the perfect choice to take up the gauntlet supporting women in sport. Which she is doing very ably this autumn with her role as ambassador to Macmillan’s Surrey Cycletta on October 12, a women’s only cycling event, in support of the cancer charity.
“There is massive inequality between male and female cycling events,” she tells me down the phone. “For the road events, girls get a raw deal.”
However, there is progress. In May Britain hosted the Women’s Tour, the UK’s first-ever women's professional cycle stage race. Then in July, the Tour de France held its inaugural La Course, which allowed women to cycle alongside their male counterparts for the last day of the world famous cycle race. It may not have been the full three-week Grand Tour that the female pros were calling for, but it was a wheel turn in the right direction.
“It’s definitely great that there are opportunities for the road women to really showcase their skills, training and expertise. It’s nice to see they are getting the opportunity to race in a high profile event for a change,” Victoria tells us. “I’m all for that and I’m all for giving young girls the opportunities to aspire
to and work towards.”
Victoria is able to speak from experience on inequality in sport, as her rise through the ranks of British cycling from the tender age of nine was sometimes fraught with difficulties. That she resorted to self-harm is something that she has been very open about. That she ultimately rose to win nine world titles surely qualifies her as a real and inspiring role model.
“I used to be the most shy, timid child, but sport has given me so much confidence and so many options, and because of that I want to encourage others to get involved,” she enthuses.
“I also feel much happier when I am partaking in sport, it keeps you balanced as a human being.”
Hence Victoria’s mission to encourage women of all ages and abilities to get on their bikes in the Cycletta.
“The big thing for me is to inspire women to get involved in sport and to do that by providing opportunity,” she says of why sporting events like Cycletta help women to get back into regular exercise. “I’m a big believer that everybody is good at some sport or fitness activity – you’ve just got to find your thing.”
The Cycletta, which has 20, 40 and 60km routes, is taking place at Loseley Park near Guildford. Given that Victoria is taking part herself, I wonder if such an event really is suitable for beginners and experts alike.
“For those approaching an event like this for the first time, I think you will find it very manageable and a lot less intimidating,” she says.
“When guys get involved, it becomes more performance orientated, but with the Cycletta it is about asking yourself, ‘what did you achieve?’ and ‘did you enjoy it?’” she counsels.
Since retiring, Victoria is relishing trying out new sports and is in the process of becoming a personal trainer, but there is no denying that her heart lies with her first love and she is passionate about recommending it as a pastime as well as a way of getting fit.
“I love the freedom that cycling gives you to explore areas and places you can go, the views you can see; cycling gives you that extra element of freedom and enjoyment around you,” she enthuses. “And for those getting into exercise, it becomes very addictive when you start to get a lot back from it too.”
For Victoria, these returns include the post-exercise endorphin rush, being able to eat what she likes and keep trim.
“I want to look a certain way. I want to enjoy my food. I don’t want to feel guilty about what I eat. I want to feel good about my body and my health and I want to look after myself. If I want to achieve that, then there’s no way of avoiding the hard work. The end result is clear in my mind and it doesn’t come for free. But to be honest, I love the challenge, when I push myself in training, it feels a lot more rewarding than if it comes easily.”
Finally, if you’re still in any doubt about whether to take part, Victoria is also urging participants to enter with groups of friends, to help with possible flagging motivation and ebbing confidences.
“Get your friends involved and make it more than just a cycle event. Make it a social team pitch in – us women are good at that and that’s what Cycletta brings,” she enthuses.
So ladies, you have been told - get your friends signed up and aim for the stars – or the leafy grounds of Loseley at least and you never know, if you train hard enough you may just be able to pedal past Miss Pendleton for that trip to the top.
The Macmillan Surrey Cycletta takes place on October 12, to enter visit: humanrace.co.uk
Victoria’s bicycle range, The Pendleton Collection, can be found exclusively at Halfords; halfords.com
