'One functioning portaloo labelled 'male-only' for 8,500 riders' – cycling sportives need to 'do better' to attract female riders
Olivia Moore's experience was not an anomaly; Cycling Weekly spoke to riders, organisers, and participation experts to find out what needs to change
Olivia Moore, a female cyclist who recently completed the Mallorca 312 gran fondo, expressed her disappointment with the event's lack of adequate toilet facilities for the 8,500 participants. The event's "male-only" toilet, ironically, was out of use and left her waiting in a long queue for 45 minutes, missing the time cut-off to finish the 225 km route.
Moore's experience is not unique, as nearly 380 comments on a video about the event echo similar complaints from other riders about lengthy toilet queues, poorly fitting jerseys, and feeling like an afterthought at the event. The issue of women's exclusion from cycling events runs deeper than just toilet facilities. Across the sport, women have raised concerns about facilities, event logistics, representation, safety, and inclusivity.
To attract more women to cycling events, organizers need to address these broader issues and make female cyclists feel welcomed.
Written by urgent.news from Cycling Weekly's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
