Tillie Anderson - USA/Sweden
✅ Best cyclist in the world of her time
🏆 Records for all distances, from sprint to endurance
📆 Milestone year: 1895
The great crossing — Born in 1875 in Sweden, she joined the United States when she was only 16 years old. Tillie Anderson etched her name in cycling history as the best cyclist in the world of her time.
Intense pace — At 18, she saved enough money working as a seamstress to buy her first bike. During the summer 1895, she took part in the Elgin-Aurora race and broke the record. Later, she traveled across the United States competing in six-day women's bike races, which involved two-hour races in the evenings for six consecutive days.
A woman of records — Tillie Anderson holds records for all distances, from sprint to endurance. She once covered half a mile (0.81 km) in 52 seconds. On another occasion, she travelled 100 miles (160.9 km) in six hours, 52 minutes and 15 seconds. She have emerged victorious in 123 races out of the 130 she have contested.
A woman engraved in history — A track and road specialist, she was voted the best cyclist in the world by the League of American Wheelmen at just 20 years old. Thirty-five years after her death (in 1965), Tillie Anderson entered the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame.
A pioneer of women's cycling — This fervent cycling activist would remain the unofficial champion of the world until her retirement in 1902. At this time, women were banned from racing in part due to the level of danger and the misogyny reigning in the sports world. . More than 100 years later, the Women's Tour de France with Zwift is a beautiful revenge on history.
Leontien van Moorsel - Netherlands
✅ Most resilient woman in women's cycling
🏆 Winner of 2 "Tour Cycliste Féminin" / Quadruple Olympic champion / Ten times world champion
📆 Pro years: 1985 - 2004
Born in 1970, Leontien van Moorsel is a Dutch cyclist. She dominated both on the road and on the track in the 1990s and the beginning of the 2000s. However, Van Moorsel abandoned the cycling world in 1994 due to mental health problems. It’s thanks to her trainer, Michael Zijlaard whom she married in 1996, that she overcame these issues.
A powerful career start — The young woman began her career at the end of the 1980s and quickly became one of the best cyclists in the world. She won major international events on the track and on the road. In the first half of the 1990s, she triumphed in the “Grande boucle féminine” twice, after fierce competition with the Frenchwoman Jeannie Longo. Leontien van Moorsel was world number one in 1992 and 1993.
A second career — In 1999, she decided to get back on a bike and take part in international competitions again. In 1998, she was selected in the Netherlands team for the World Road Championships. For her comeback, she won the silver medal in the time trial.
A leader's record — During her career, Leontien van Moorsel was a four-time Olympic champion and ten-time world champion. She also held the “record de l'heure” between 2003 and 2015. She is also a double winner of the Tour Cycliste Féminin. She has more than 200 victories. She was also voted Dutch Sportswoman of the Year six times in 1990, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2003 and 2004.
For her whole career, she really impressed with her resilience. Her way of facing difficulties positions her as an inspiring woman in cycling, especially for the new generation during this first edition of the Tour de France Women with Zwift. 🚴♀️
Marianne Martin - USA
✅ First woman to win a Grand Tour
🏆 Winner of the first Women's Tour de France
📆 Milestone year: 1984
A sportswoman at heart — Born in 1957, Marianne Martin, who initially started her career as a runner, turned to cycling following a back injury. Her early years as a ballet dancer helped sculpting her strong legs.
One objective, the Tour de France — In 1984, she learned that a Tour de France would be organized for the first time for women! Her ambition is clear: to be selected for this legendary race. Without reference, she obtains the last spot in the American national team, after having convinced the coach Edward Borysewicz. The event was revolutionary for its time even if the future of the women's version is subject to the debate. With 18 stages, it was the longest women's stage race ever. She won 2 stages as well as the overall classification.
Marianne Martin proved that anything is possible if you dare. Even though she ended her career early for health reasons, it’s admirable to see that women are capable of moving mountains, and we've seen it again in this first Women's Tour de France with Zwift. 🚴♀️
Jeannie Longo - France
✅ Most decorated woman in the world
🏆 1 Olympic title, 10 world champion titles, 3 Tour de France
📆 Pro years: 1979 - 2016
A sporting childhood — Born in 1958, Jeannie Longo began her sports career in alpine skiing but she very quickly proved to be great at cycling. At the age of 20, in 1978, she started cycling and began to win titles the following year. The Longo machine was on.
Exceptional longevity — She won her first world titles in 1985, while her rivals during her last career victories had not yet been born! Even though she stopped racing in 2016, she was still really active as of 2021: at the age of 62, she became world champion against the clock in her age category (60-64 years old).
A unique track record — Jeannie Longo can be considered as the most successful female cyclist in history. She won tons of medals at the World Cycling Championships and became Olympic champion in 1996, but also 3 victories in the women's Tour de France. During her career, she's beaten 38 world records and gott 1157 victories since her first licence.
