"Grace Brown, a prominent figure in the Cyclist Alliance, advocates for unity amidst simmering discussions on rider respect at the Tour de France Femmes, stating that internal issues should not be disregarded as external problems."
In the midst of a charged edition of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, an Olympic gold medalist and world time trial champion, Grace Brown, has taken a stand for change. Brown, a prominent figure in women's cycling, is spearheading a unity campaign aimed at promoting solidarity within the peloton.
The campaign, dubbed the Purple Ribbon Movement, is a joint effort by The Cyclists Alliance, an organisation that focuses on equality and fair working conditions. The movement aims to address a range of issues, including minimum salaries beyond the top tier, extended maternity leave, a universal and standardised approach to race safety, and the controversial handlebar regulations.
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, hailed as a major step forward for women's cycling, has faced scrutiny around the depth of competition and team dynamics. However, the key safety issues and public controversies in this year's event are not explicitly detailed in the available search results. The broader context of women's professional cycling, including this event, reflects long-standing challenges around financial sustainability, media coverage, and sexism.
Teams are putting pressure on riders to be at the front, which can lead to riders taking risks they otherwise wouldn't, Brown noted. A public back and forth among some sports directors of teams has arisen regarding mutual respect between riders and teams. Brown emphasised that while racing inherently involves taking risks, these risks must be taken with respect for other people's lives and careers.
The Purple Ribbon Movement encourages riders to wear the purple ribbons on their wrist, hair, helmets, and bikes. Brown called for all parties to come together and agree to change the way behaviour is going in the peloton to improve safety. Brown also suggested that the presence of senior riders who could guide appropriate behaviour could help change the culture in the peloton.
The development of the women's peloton and increasing competitive tension has had both benefits and negative side effects, according to Brown. She called for all parties to address the ongoing controversies in women's cycling revolving around financial and media equity, and internal team sporting pressures.
Looking ahead, Brown mentioned the new ProTeam category introduced in 2025, which includes minimum wages and UCI regulation. However, the Continental teams still function outside that system. The Cyclists Alliance is advocating for a purple ribbon unity campaign within the peloton, building a relationship with the CPA to work together.
The topic of mutual respect and safety was brought to the forefront after Demi Vollering's stage 3 crash at this year's race. Brown emphasised that riders also have a responsibility to respect each other and ride within their limits to ensure safety. If given the power to change one thing, Brown would like to improve the standards for the Continental level of racing, including introducing minimum wages and proper UCI regulation.
The Purple Ribbon Movement is a significant step towards promoting a safer and more equitable environment in women's cycling. As the sport continues to grow and evolve, it is crucial that all parties work together to address the challenges and ensure a bright future for women's cycling.
- Brown's Purple Ribbon Movement, an initiative by The Cyclists Alliance, strives to promote personal growth and education-and-self-development within women's cycling, addressing issues such as minimum salaries, maternity leave, race safety, and team dynamics.
- In addition to advocating for change in the peloton, Brown also suggests the importance of positive role models, like senior riders, in fostering a culture of mutual respect and safety, a crucial aspect of sports-analysis and personal-growth for all participants.
