On a stormy February day in Lancashire, I'm riding back to the future with a peloton of Olympians, world and national champions. They all rode the original women's Tour de France which ran concurrently with the men's Tour for six years in the 1980s. Between them they have 16 finishers' medals and one white jersey.
While some believe this year's Tour de France Femmes, due to start in Paris on the day the men's race finishes, will be the first ever, the women I'm riding with know differently. Until CW organised today's reunion, they believed their achievements from almost 40 years ago had been largely forgotten. Their medals, road books, race numbers and other memorabilia had remained neglected in attics or at the back of cupboards.
“I'm proud of what we did but I don't talk about it unless someone asks me. No one likes a show-off," says Louise Moore (née Garbett) who, as a 19-yearold, stood on the podium next to Laurent Fignon, Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault after winning the young rider's white jersey at the 1984 Tour.
As we ride up Pendle Hill towards a cake stop at the 110-year-old Clarion House - the last surviving 'refuge' of the National Clarion Club - tales of suffering, heroism and humour emerge from behind the riders' veil of modesty.
By the time we are enjoying mugs of tea in front of a roaring coal fire, the stories of Team GB's adventures at the Tour de France Feminin from 1984 are 1989 are starting to unfold...
SUE GORNALL (NEE THOMPSON)
Rode the Tours of 1986-89. Works as a nursery assistant and rides for Barnoldswick Clarion
I was getting good results for Weaver Valley CC in Cheshire when I was selected for the '86 Tour. I'd finished 23rd at that year's Worlds road race so had already used up all my time off from my job at a shoe shop so had to quit.
This story is from the March 24, 2022 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
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This story is from the March 24, 2022 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
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