This chapter focuses on specific female cycling champions who have made a difference in the world of sports competition, and more so, on the movement towards women’s social equality in Portugal, Italy and France. The first section, on Portuguese champions, could be considered as a portrayal of the first stage of women’s cycling. When women began to leave cycling just as a mere leisure activity and engaged in the world of competition, to the extent it was possible for them given the extreme limitations. The second section features the career of Alfonsina Strada during the development of cycling as male sport. Strada’s love for cycling and perseverance made her the only woman to participate as a competitor in an all man’s race, the Giro d’Italia. In the third section, Jeannie Longo’s achievements exemplify an outstanding cycling champion in the modern French cycling environment which gives context to the third stage of women’s cycling.
All these personalities belong the history of cycling, but more importantly, they belong to the history of women’s emancipation which the history of humankind. The bicycle was to all of them an instrument of empowerment. These champions have served as inspiration for other sportswomen and women in general. Longo, who has now finished her career as a racing competitor, continues to push boundaries onto female equality in terms of sports managements. Strada’s career and life continues to create stories and legends - which are all exemplified in the many songs, poems, plays and websites that keep coming out. Even the lesser known Oceana Zarco’s impact on the history of cycling remains present, as proof is the epitaph on her tomb.

Icônes Révolutionnaires : Les championnes du cyclisme féminin.