Gaps and opportunities for women's cycling in Colombia

After the participation of 139 women in the 2024 Vuelta a Colombia, Colombian women's cycling is preparing for a new edition of this competition, which will be held from June 9 to 15, 2025, and will travel through six departments of the country: Cundinamarca, Tolima, Quindío, Valle del Cauca, Caldas and Risaralda .

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There will be six stages, covering a total of 636.1 kilometers, bringing together the best national and international cyclists in an event that is consolidating itself as the most important of the season for women on two wheels.

However, despite the rise of women's cycling worldwide, the reality for many women in this sport remains unequal.

According to a survey by the international Cyclists' Alliance (TCA), 34% of professional female cyclists are unpaid, a figure that reflects the persistent gap compared to their male colleagues.

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In Colombia, the challenge is even greater, as female cyclists face structural and financial barriers that hinder their professional development.

Fernando Daza, CEO of ITOOK Bike, the bicycle company that supports the Pedalea Cycling Team, points out that women's cycling in Colombia has shown significant growth, with a greater presence in both national and international competitions. However, he emphasizes that various challenges persist in terms of visibility, funding, and equitable access to opportunities compared to men's cycling. For this reason, they have been supporting teams and competitions such as La Rodada de la Mujer and the Vuelta a Colombia Femenina.

“Women's cycling in Colombia still faces an unequal reality compared to men's. For years, this sport has been marked by a structure that favors men: there is less media visibility, less sponsorship investment, and little infrastructure for women to develop professionally. Many cyclists, even at competitive levels, are unpaid, which represents a huge barrier. Despite this, women have demonstrated discipline, talent, and outstanding results both nationally and internationally. Therefore, at ITOOK Bike, we believe it is urgent to change this narrative and invest in the growth of women's cycling,” Daza points out.

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According to the Colombian Cycling Federation, 25 teams participated in the 2024 Women's Vuelta a Colombia, including 19 Colombian national teams, 5 foreign teams, and the Venezuelan national team .

In addition, 340 female licenses were issued in 2021, a figure that increased to 367 in 2022, although still far from the more than 1,377 male licenses granted in the same period.

"We hope that in this tenth edition of the Vuelta a Colombia, the Pedalea Cycling Team will achieve a notable performance. This team is made up of eight talented riders from the departments of Cundinamarca, Boyacá, and Antioquia. For several months now, we have been supporting these women so they have the same opportunities as the men's professional teams," adds Fernando Daza, CEO of ITOOK Bike.