As part of a commitment to further promote and grow women’s cycling, Rapha has welcomed two new additions to its roster: Lael Wilcox and Sarah Sturm.
Wilcox and Sturm line up alongside three-times Canadian Cyclocross champion, Maghalie Rochette, who joined Rapha in September 2020, and professional cycling team, CANYON//SRAM, which recently unveiled its new Pro Team kit with Rapha for the season ahead.
Recognising the importance of inspiring the next generation of female riders, Rapha adds that it will continue to nurture grassroot participation through The Rapha Foundation, which invests US$1.5m annually to support underrepresented cycling communities. It has funded organisations such as The Helen100 Foundation and The Amy D. Foundation that focus on providing opportunities for young women in cycling.
To help tell these stories in more depth, Rapha has launched a new official Instagram channel, Rapha Women (@rapha_women). This is a dedicated space to elevate women in cycling and facilitate conversations on important issues relating to the world of women’s riding.
‘The platform will showcase the many, often unseen riders, doing amazing things for the sport. We hope that with this platform we can speak to and hear from women and gender diverse people, building a relationship with a community who deserve a bigger space within the cycling world.’
Lael Wilcox
For a rider who first got in the saddle as an adult, Lael Wilcox has cycled far and wide. One of the best female ultra-endurance cyclists in the world, she boasts an impressive record including winning the 4,300 mile Trans Am Bike Race in 2016 and setting the women’s record for the 2,750 mile Tour Divide in 2015.
“I’m inspired by Rapha’s storytelling. At once, cycling can be both gritty and beautiful,” Lael Wilcox said. “The team from Rapha is motivated to get more people on bikes, to make cycling the most popular sport in the world. I’m personally motivated to encourage more women and girls to get out there.
“We are underrepresented, but that doesn’t mean we’re not capable. The more women riding, the more individual role-models of possibility exist. Cycling is a tool I’ve used to build confidence, feel good in my own skin, see the world, work through my thoughts, realize dreams, make new ones and see a hopeful future.”
Sarah Sturm
Rapha notes that Sarah Sturm is quite unlike any other professional bike rider… ‘A successful graphic designer and dedicated mentor off the bike, Sarah is a destroyer on the bike, competing across a range of disciplines.
‘In 2019 alone, Sarah raced to podium finishes at the Belgium Waffle Ride, SBT GVL, and the Sea Otter Classic, and she’s also a two-time US Single Speed Cyclocross National Champion.’
She said, “I am so excited to be working with Rapha, it was a big move for me and I have been welcomed with creativity and openness. The things that are important to me, environmental consciousness, equality, design and process are all pages from the Rapha book.
“I look forward to the year ahead, new designs, projects and adventures, it’s both comforting and motivating to know that I have the support of Rapha right next to me.”
