Women's Cycling News 23-30.06.2013

Rider assaulted by coach? -  Longo Borghini injured - Want to put a question to Orica's Giro Rosa squad? - Interesting Links - more to come...

Rider assaulted by coach?

Erika Varela was attacked by her coach, says
eye-witness

Erika Varela, winner of the Junior Road Race at the 2012 PanAmerican Championships, was allegedly subjected to a physical assault at the hands of her team coach Arturo Meneses - who is also the president of the Asociación de Ciclismo del Estado de México.

Gustavo Garcia, an eye-witness who took photos of the alleged attack at the Mexican National Championships, claims to have gone to see what was going on after hearing shouting and saw the rider and coach arguing over results. He says he then saw them struggling with one another next to a car, after which the rider was pushed to the ground. In one of the photos, Meneses has taken hold of Varela's arm; it is unclear whether he is trying to pull her back to her feet or twisting it. It would be possible to argue that the photos actually show Varela fainting with Meneses trying to catch her, then helping her back to his feet; however, in what is apparently the last photo, he has taken hold of her under the arms and is lifting her back up while she has taken firm hold of the car's door handle and is pulling herself up - which suggests she is fully aware of the situation rather than being dazed as would be expected had she just fainted.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Elisa!

Elisa Longo Borghini injured
It's been a superb season for Elisa Longo Borghini, who has brought her Hitec Products-UCK team numerous podium places and a couple of very impressive victories - including at the Trofeo Binda, where she beat Emma Johansson, Ellen van Dijk, Amanda Spratt, Chantal Blaak and Marianne Vos - but her luck ran out at the Italian National Championships.

The 21-year-old, considered one of the sport's most promising rising stars, crashed around 3km from the finish line in wet conditions and received a nasty cut to the abdomen; the official race medics sent her to hospital to be properly examined and it was there that X-rays revealed the rider had also suffered a fracture in her iliac crest, the large bone that forms the "shoulder" of the pelvis.

It's too early for doctors to be able to estimate Longo Borghini's recovery time, but with other riders who have suffered similar injuries taking several months to fully heal it looks as though her 2013 season is at an end. She will, of course, miss the Giro Rosa, which she had listed as her greatest goal this year.

Ever wanted to ask the Giro Rosa riders anything?
I know I have, and chances are you have too - or if not, you'll probably be able to think of something (what's the name of that men's race that takes place in France at the same time the Rosa's on in Italy, for example). Last year, Amber Pierce ran a series of post-stage video conferences in which she answered questions from fans and delighted us all with her willingness to spend time chatting about the world in general (thanks Amber!), but she won't be at the race this year.

Fortunately, the fantastic Sarah Connolly - who is largely responsible for convincing me that I like women's cycling more than men's, and as such partially inspired this website - has managed to persuade several Orica-AIS riders who will be there to answer questions with the answers then being published on Podium Cafe.

"You can ask questions for the team in general, or for individual riders - anything you've wanted to know about racing a Tour! Anything you like, from technical questions, what riders pack in their "survival kit" to worst moments from previous Giros, what's it really like riding up a mountain in the scorching heat, who are they all hoping they don't have to share rooms with - anything!" Sarah says. Read more about it here.

Interesting Links
UK
Joanna Rowsell wins British National Time Trial Championship (SkySports)
Lizzie Armitstead joins Sky Sports editorial team as a cycling blogger (SkySports)
New British TT Champ Jo Rowsell speaks to Road.CC (Road.CC)
Olympic star Laura Trott races at Otley (Telegraph&Argus)
Jess Varnish urges more women to cycle (GiveMeSport)
Worldwide

Athletes, organizers, USA Cycling consider challenges, benefits for big-time women’s racing (VeloNews)

Ferrand Prevot repeats as French time trial champion (Cycling News)
Maria Parker expected to finish RAAM today (Robesonian)
Tayler Wiles leaps from casual rider to international racer (Salt Lake Tribune)
Fort Collins cyclist Amanda Miller ready to put injuries behind her (Coloradoan)
Numainville wins Canadian ITT Champs (TheSpec.com)
Dirt Skirt revolution: Local cycling series aims to encourage women to race (Winnipeg Free Press)
Theresa Cliff-Ryan wins East Troy Classic (VeloNews)
Cyclist Dies After Crash at SD Velodrome (NBC San Diego)
Rebecca Rusch repeats as Dirty Kanza women’s champ (Idaho Mountain Express)
Tour of Elk Grove women’s race will be televised nationally (Daily Herald, US)
Wheels are turning for Victoria Gates (Worcester Telegram, Massachusetts)
Nursyazwana Mohd Jamil is new Malaysian Road Race Champ (New Straits Times)