Amgen Tour of California Women’s Time Trial
April 5th, 2011 by Ashleigh Moolman Pasio
It has recently been brought to my attention that the 2011 Amgen Tour of California might stage a professional women’s individual time trial, where the prize money will be paid based on how many men the top women beat.
When asked what I think of this idea, it got me thinking….
My initial reaction was one of excitement! How cool would it be to see the top women time trial specialists taking on some of the world’s best men? Let’s show them what we made of!
However, when thinking a bit longer on the matter my opinion changed somewhat…..
I feel that women’s cycling is not the same as men’s cycling, not because of superiority/inferiority, but by tribute to the fact that it is a different discipline.
Would a competition of this nature really do anything positive for the sport of women’s cycling?
Would it not just sexualise the sport, where I feel men and women should be treated equally, not based on which sex is the strongest or the fastest, but on merit that each discipline is unique?
In my opinion, whether some of the top women beat the men or not, is not important! Women’s cycling should be supported because it is exciting and entertaining in its own right!
