Main content

First women's cyclo-cross world championship

In 2000, female riders were able to take part in the cyclo-cross world championship. It was half a century after the men's event first took place.

In 2000, female riders were able to take part in the cyclo-cross world championship for the first time.

There has been a men鈥檚 event since 1950, but took another half century for female riders to be allowed to take part.

Cyclo-cross involves races on grassland and sand, which includes steep gradients and often sees riders forced to jump off and run with their bikes across muddy sections of the course.

Matthew Kenyon has been talking to Dutch rider Daphny van den Brand about the sport, her campaign and that first ever global showpiece in the Dutch town of Sint Michielsgestel.

(Photo: Daphny van den Brand. Credit: Getty Images)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Sun 5 Feb 2023 03:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Thu 2 Feb 2023 10:50GMT
  • Fri 3 Feb 2023 00:50GMT
  • Fri 3 Feb 2023 03:50GMT
  • Sat 4 Feb 2023 18:50GMT
  • Sun 5 Feb 2023 03:50GMT

Olympic history

Olympic history

The inside and personal story of the key moments from sporting history

Sporting Witness Films

Sporting Witness Films

Watch sporting heroes tell their stories of astonishing achievement

Podcast