The resignations of top women cyclists Anke Erlank-Moore, Chrissie Viljoen and Ronel van Wyk has cast the sport under a spotlight, with concerns about the lack of recognition for professional women cyclists, proper selection structures and remuneration.
But Dome2Dome race organisers and Charles Freeme, representative of the SA women’s professional teams, have secured a bigger prize pot, and an undertaking to drive the process to secure sanctioning from the sport’s world governing body (UCI) for the next year’s Dome2Dome women’s event.
This year’s winning woman’s R1800 first prize is now padded with an all-expenses paid weekend for two at the Royal Swazi Sun, valued at almost R10 000.
But more importantly, woman cyclists will for the first time have an official spokesman to fight their cause. “Things just aren’t acceptable in so many ways for women,” said Freeme, a Pretoria businessman who also sponsors the Cbist racing team.
“Women add immense value to events and to the sport in general, and they have been receiving a raw deal for a long time. The resignation of the three top girls this year has brought the issue to the fore.
“I’m very serious about improving conditions for women – not only in monetary terms, but also in being treated fairly in all aspects, especially concerning selection against the background of the Ronel van Wyk debacle. We simply cannot afford to lose more women to the sport.”
On his part, Dome2Dome race organiser, Leandro le Roux, expressed his concern for woman in the sport following the meeting with Freeme.
“With the current issues in woman’s cycling being brought under our attention today, we will throw our full weight behind Charles and his team. Hopefully our contribution will go some way in giving woman their rightful place in the sport,” he said.
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