THE BRADLEY WIGGINS SHOW - 29 AUGUST 2020
Eurosport and GCN expert Sir Bradley Wiggins is back, bringing you daily reaction to each stage of the 2020 Tour de France and discussing the biggest stories of the day.
In this episode, double Olympic champion Joanna Rowsell joins Brad to discusses plans to create a women's Tour de France as well as reviewing Le Tour's opening stage.
Sir Bradley Wiggins on the wait for a women's Tour
“I remember asking these questions back in 2012 when I won the Tour de France. Just put it on now. They managed to shift this Tour de France to August/September but it [women’s Tour] always seems to get knocked down the road.
“I remember talking about this and trying to do something to help and putting some money into Rochelle Gilmore’s team. At some point, someone’s got to do something. An organisation like ASO, and we have to wait another two years... Why don’t you just do it this year, or next year?
“How long have we been saying this? Eight years for sure because I got asked this question in 2012. It [women’s cycling] probably needs something like a Tour de France now because sponsors will come in. Why two years? It’s always an after-thought isn’t it.”
Joanna Rowsell adds her views
“The most common excuse for not having a women’s Tour de France is logistics. If you can push the Olympics back by a year, if you can rearrange the whole UCI calendar, the logistics thing is nonsense in my opinion.
"I do think for women’s cycling, having a women’s Tour de France is the most profile-raising thing you can do for the sport. Whether it’s the same time as the men’s after, before, whatever. The brand has a huge impact and I’m constantly being asked, did you ride the Tour de France? There isn’t a women’s one, it’s only for men.
“Brad’s right, we’ve been talking about this for years. The Olympic events back in 2008 weren’t equal and they were made equal by 2012. But the road side of it has just been pushed down the road.”
Listen to episode in full here.