Time trialling on verge of step toward equality

Decision on prize money parity for male and female competitors imminent from governing body Cycling Time Trials

- Vern Pitt

The board of governing body Cycling Time Trials will meet this Sunday (17 January) to decide on whether to make prize money for men and women competing equal. The push for prize money parity comes from a group of campaigners that have amassed the signatures of over 4,000 people – including prominent time triallists Jasmijn Muller, Alice Lethbridge and Ed Laverack – on an open letter calling for changes to the regulations.

Alice Thomson, one of the Equality and Parity in Cycling (EPIC) group pushing for the changes, told CW: “I honestly think it would be huge. To women in the sport, it would be a massive step change. It’s more than the change in prizes. It’s a statement that says we are progressive, we recognise the women of this sport and we want to value them equally.”

National champion time triallist Alice Lethbridge (Drag2Zero) said she was struck by the contrast with running, her previous sport, where equal prize money was largely the norm. “In the first few years, the organisers who were giving equal prize money were the exception. You’d get the start sheet through and if there was equal prize money you’d be like, ‘Wow that’s amazing .’

“I think equal prizes would make a big difference in terms of making women feel welcomed and encouraged to give it a go.”

Thomson said the group had made themselves available to speak at the meeting but the CTT had not yet taken up their invitation.