Tour De Force

Amateur racer Helen Bridgman joined a women’s team riding the entire course of the Tour de France one day ahead of the race to advance the case for racing equality

- David Bradford

“I’m a total amateur,” says Helen Bridgman, modestly. “I’m a third cat and I’ve been racing for a couple of years; I enjoy it, but I’m not very good.”

Last year, an unusual video by Škoda caught the self-deprecating rider’s attention. #ThisIsOurTime was a special campaign appealing for applications for the Donnons des Elles au Vélo, a French women’s team which since 2015 has ridden the course of the Tour de France one day ahead of the race to draw attention to the fact that women’s racing still has no equivalent.

As Bridgman was mulling over taking the leap and applying, she heard about the Internation-Elles, a 10-strong, all-amateur, English-speaking women’s team who were setting out to follow the French example and complete the exact same politically charged ride. What motivated the 40-year-old Londoner to get involved?

“The premise of the whole project: fighting for equality in the sport. Women’s cycling deserves an equal platform to men’s, and the Tour de France is an event that transcends cycling — everybody has heard of it.”

When it comes to raising the profile of women’s cycling, Bridgman, whose day job is in marketing, is a seasoned campaigner.

“I’m co-chair of London Women’s Racing; we’re constantly trying to encourage more women to get into racing, finding partners and people to help grow the sport in the London area.”

It wasn’t all about the politics, of course.