If you're new to racing...

..or simply riding recreationally or for fitness, are considering the possibility of entering races in the future or even if you're enjoying a successful career, you could do a lot worse than read Heather Nielson's "Back to Basics: How to keep from being overwhelmed."

Heather offers excellent tips on gaining confidence and developing as a rider - and, as an experienced professional rider and qualified coach, you can be sure that she knows what she's talking about.

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2012 Women's start list

200 riders divided between 25 teams in one of the biggest, toughest and most exciting of the Spring Classics. If you only watch one women's race this year, make it this one - and then make sure you tell everyone how great women's cycling is.

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1   JOHANSSON Emma Sweden
2   MUSTONEN Sara Sweden
3   NOSTVOLD Lise Hafsö Norway
4   WAERSTAD Fröydis Norway
5   MOBERG Emilie Norway
6   VORELAND Marie Norway
7   JOHANSEN Cecilie Sæteröy Norway
8   LONGO BORGHINI Elisa Italy

Rabobank
11   DE JONG Thalita Netherlands
12   DE VOCHT Liesbeth Belgium
13   DÜSTER Sarah Germany
14   FERRAND PREVOT Pauline France
15   KITCHEN Lauren Australia
16   KNETEMANN Roxane Netherlands
17   SLAPPENDEL Iris Netherlands
18   TALEN Rebecca Netherlands

Specialized-Lululemon
21   COLCLOUGH Katie United Kingdom
22   FAHLIN Emilia Sweden
23   HOSKING Chloe Australia
24   VAN DIJK Ellen Netherlands
25   WORRACK Trixi Germany
26   BECKER Charlotte Germany
27   BRENNAUER Lisa Germany

AA Drink-Leontien.nl
31   ARMITSTEAD Elisabeth United Kingdom
32   MARTIN Lucy United Kingdom
33   WILD Kirsten Netherlands
34   BRAND Lucinda Netherlands
35   BLAAK Chantal Netherlands
36   SÖDERBERG Isabelle Sweden
37   VAN WANROIJ Marieke Netherlands
38   DAAMS Jessie Belgium

GreenEDGE-AIS
41   GUNNEWIJK Loes Netherlands
42   SPRATT Amanda Australia
43   RHODES Alexis Australia
44   CROMWELL Tiffany Australia
45   FRY Rowena Australia
46   HÄUSLER Claudia Germany
47   HOSKINS Melissa Australia

BePink
51   VALSECCHI Silvia Italy
52   MARTISOVA Julia Russia
53   KOZONCHUK Oxana Russia
54   FRAPPORTI Simona Italy
55   CANTELE Noemi Italy
56   PATUZZO Eleonora Italy
57   ZRIMSEK Petra Slovenia
58   AMIALIUSIK Alena Belarus

Faren Honda
61   GILMORE Rochelle Australia
62   CONFALONIERI Maria Giulia Italy
63   UTROBINA Elena Russia
64   HOHL Jennifer Switzerland
65   BLINDYUK Yulia Russia
66   NADALUTTI Chiara Italy
67   LUPERINI Fabiana Italy
68   GRASSI Giuseppina Mexico

Rusvelo
71   BONDARENKO Alina Russia
72   FOUQUET Laura Germany
73   GONCHAROVA Alexandra Russia
74   KASPER Romy Germany
75   MALAKHOVA Lidia Russia
76   KUPFERNAGEL Hanka Germany
77   BOYARSKAYA Natalia Russia
78   BUBNENKOVA Svetlana Russia

Lotto Belisol
81   DE VUYST Sofie Belgium
82   DUYCK Ann Sophie Belgium
83   GOOSSENS Joline Belgium
84   HENRION Ludivine Belgium
85   HANNES Kaat Belgium
86   NIJNS Nathalie Belgium
87   SCHOONBAERT Kim Belgium
88   VAN LOOY Katrien Belgium

Dolmans-Boels
91   BRAS Martine Netherlands
92   VAN DEN BROEK Irene Netherlands
93   DECROIX Lieselot Belgium
94   ENSING Janneke Netherlands
95   GERCAMA Alie Netherlands
96   VAN DER KAMP Laura Netherlands
97   KESSLER Nina Netherlands
98   TROTT Emma United Kingdom

Skil 1t4i
101   BRUINS Regina Netherlands
102   PIETERS Amy Netherlands
103   DE GOEDE Suzanne Netherlands
104   TROMP Esra Netherlands
105   VAN DE REE Monique Netherlands
106   VISSER Adrie Netherlands
107   VAN RIJEN Linda Netherlands
108   KANIS Janneke Netherlands

Kleo
111   ARYS Evelyn Belgium
112   ARNOUTS Anne Belgium
113   CORAZZA Martina Italy
114   DIJKMAN Petra Netherlands
115   LAMBORELLE Nathalie Luxembourg
116   LINDBERG Marie Sweden
117   VERBEKE Grace Belgium
118   VAN DOORSLAER Annelies Belgium

GSD-Gestion
121   AUBRY Emilie Switzerland
122   BRAVARD Charlotte France
123   BRAVARD Mélanie France
124   HORGANE - DERVAN Siobhan Ireland
125   MAJERUS Christine Luxembourg
126   SCHMITT Anne-Marie Luxembourg
127   SCHWAGER Patricia Switzerland
128   CHAUMET Oriane France

Vienne Futuroscope
131   BEVERIDGE Julie Canada
132   CANUEL Karol-Ann Canada
133   CORDON Audrey France
134   TAYLOR Carlee Australia
135   DUTRIAUX Fiona France
136   GRAUS Andrea Austria
137   ROUSSE Marion France
138   LETUÉ Jennifer France

Abus Nutrixxion
141   FIEDLER Yvonne Germany
142   GASS Daniela Germany
143   GOSS Belinda Australia
144   MACKIE Emma Australia
145   REINER Elisabeth Austria
146   SCHAUSS Fabienne Luxembourg
147   SCHNITZMEIER Anna Bianca Germany
148   JOHREND Marlen Germany

Fassa Bortolo-Servetto
151   BITTO Irene Italy
152   CECCHEL Erika Italy
153   FIORI Jennifer Italy
154   GATTO Viviana Italy
155   GUARISCHI Barbara Italy
156   PALADIN Soraya Italy
157   RONCHI Giulia Italy
158   SCHWEIZER Doris Switzerland

TopSport Vlaanderen-Ridley 2012
161   DRUYTS Kelly Belgium
162   D'HOORE Jolien Belgium
163   BRULEE Latoya Belgium
164   BELMANS Else Belgium
165   POLSPOEL Maaike Belgium
166   VAN DEN BRANDE Edith Belgium
167   VEKEMANS Anisha Belgium
168   BEYEN Ine Belgium

Sengers
171   SILVERSIDES Emma United Kingdom
172   KOEDOODER Vera Netherlands
173   BUYL Kimberly Belgium
174   DEROOVER Eline Belgium
175   ROGGEMAN Inge Belgium
176   LAVRIJSSEN Birgit Netherlands
177   KOSTER Claudia Netherlands
178   SCHREURS Geerike Netherlands

Alriksson-Go:Green
181   FREDÄNG Linea Sweden
182   JACOBSSON Madeleine Sweden
183   KIHLBOM Jessica Sweden
184   SANDSTRÖM Beata Sweden
185   RYDLUND Malin Sweden
186   SJOBLOM Linnea Sweden
187   KALLFELDT Marie Sweden
188   NILSSON Hanna Sweden

Wielerclub de Sprinters Malderen
191   BEYEN Lien Belgium
192   DE CROOCK Stephanie Belgium
193   GEERINCKX Jasmien Belgium
194   LEENKNEGT Liliane Belgium
195   VAN DEN HAUTE Steffy Belgium
196   VAN DEN STEEN Goedele Belgium
197   VERVOORT Evi Belgium
198   WERNER Laure Belgium

Wielerclub Steeds Vooraan - Kontich W.Z.V
201   DOM Annelies Belgium
202   GEOGHEGAN Michelle Ireland
203   VAN DEN BOSCH Carolien Belgium
204   BOLANGIER Elke Belgium
205   JASPART Larisa Belgium
206   BREYNE Mariska Belgium
207   CATTRYSE Melanie Belgium
208   DE VESTELE Adeline Belgium

Dura Vermeer Ladies Cycling Team
211   BONGAARDS Amanda Netherlands
212   KLEP Inge Netherlands
213   CEULEMANS Dunja Belgium
214   VERDONCK Sofie Belgium
215   DE MOYER Tessa Belgium
216   SIMONS Suzan Netherlands
217   CLAESSEN Marjolein Netherlands
218   KLOPPENBURG Margriet Helena Denmark

Team Nutswerk
221         GINS Tara Belgium
222   KLOK Ines Netherlands
223   JANSSEN Christel Netherlands
224   BOGAERT Lisa Belgium
225   WOERING Henriette Netherlands
226   DOEDEE Baukje Netherlands
227   BRAAM Joukje Netherlands
228   BRUIN Jolanda Netherlands

Ruiter Dakkapellen Cycling
231   BOSKAMP Joan Netherlands
232   HEIJKOOP Anne Netherlands
233   HOEKSMA Ilona Netherlands
234   JOCHEMS Britt Netherlands
235   VAN KATWIJK Nathalie Netherlands
236   VAN NIEUWPOORT Tessa Netherlands
237   SOEK Julia Netherlands
238   VISSER Annelies Netherlands

RC Jan van Arckel
241   WILDEMAN Jet Netherlands
242   KUIZENGA Sigrid Netherlands
243   FRANCKE Agnieta Netherlands
244   JONGSTRA Sione Netherlands
245   KNOL Willeke Netherlands
246   OOIJEN Marielle Netherlands
247   KOGELMAN Silke Netherlands
248   VAN WIJK Eltina Netherlands

Martine Bras will ride at the Olympics

(image credit: Dolmans-Boels Cycling Team)

Martine Bras is no stranger to the loftiest heights of a successful cycling career - after all, she won her first National Championship title when she was ten years old - but now she's about to climb one step higher: she will represent her native Netherlands in the London Olympic Games.

Now aged 33, Martine had perhaps her best season to date in 2011with top ten results in several of the most prestigious races in women's cycling, a win at the UCI 1.2 Halle-Buizingen and an excellent Stage 3 victory at the Tour Féminin en Limousin.

The rider, currently with Dolmans-Boels, is brimming with confidence: "I shouldn't be underestimated on the London course," she says, "with many twists and turns and sloping streets, it suits me." However, like all good riders she hasn't forgotten that the cycling world has its own major events: "I'm still targeting the Limburg World Championships, which 2012 a challenging year for myself and for the team. It gives me the motivation to give everything I've got again this season."

GP Heuts Heerlen CX results

Daphny Van Den Brand
(image credit: Thomas Ducroquet CC BY-SA 3.0)

"Here in Heerlen, I could tell the others were tiring so I took a bit of a risk. When I came to the last corner, I knew the victory was mine." (Daphny Van Den Brand)

It's been an excellent weekend for Dutch cyclo crosser Daphny Van Den Brand - yesterday, she won the Superprestige Middelkerke race and today she repeated that success on the frozen parcours at Heerlen after giving Sanne Van Paassen and Nikki Harris the slip as the three of them raced to the end of the final lap.

A last sprint along the tarmac gave her a ten second advantage as she crossed the finish line, with Van Paassen crossing eight seconds ahead of British rider Harris. Helen Wyman won this race last year and was a favourite today - however, despite a customarily excellent launch away from the start she's still having some problems in the freezing conditions during the latter part of this season after coming down with a chest infection that has cut a swathe through women's 'cross, making her fifth place finish 1'16" behind Van Den Brand  perfectly respectable.

Babaco's Christine Vardoros suffered with her asthma in the cold weather and therefore did well to take 17th place all things considered. "Asthma strikes again in Heerlen today," she told fans via her Facebook page. "With very cold dry air i was wheezing within a minute of the start and pedaled backwards for the whole race, somehow managing to ride slower and slower. It took everything i had just to cross the finish line in what felt like - and probably was - slow motion. Sooo bummed." She later said that she'd have stopped had it not have been for the knowledge that so many people were cheering for her, and anyone who suffers asthma will be more than a little impressed that she kept going and finished the race.

It was notable that, despite the question placed to her by a UCI interviewer following the World Championships at Koksijde two weeks ago, the absence of Marianne Vos did not make the race any more competitive; all riders rode as hard today as they have done when competing against the Dutch superstar with no apparent increase in effort.

Van Den Brand now has three races to go before she ends her 'cross career at the end of this season. "It's time to let the new generation take over," she says.

Dutch website Wheeler Watchers have excellent photos to illustrate the icy conditions.

Elite Women Results

  1.  Daphny Van Den Brand 00:37:50
  2.  Sanne Van Paassen   00:10
  3.  Nikki Harris 00:18
  4.  Sophie De Boer 00:36
  5.  Helen Wyman 01:16
  6.  Arenda Grimberg 01:26
  7.  Sabrina Stultiens ST
  8.  Reza Hormes Ravenstijn 01:54
  9.  Nikoline Hansen 02:02
  10.  Joyce Vanderbeken 02:10
  11.  Amy Dombroski ST
  12.  Iris Ockeloen 03:02
  13.  Ellen Van Loy 03:10
  14.  Evy Kuijpers ST
  15.  Nancy Bober 03:35
  16.  Yara Kastelijn 04:05
  17.  Christine Vardaros 04:21
  18.  Margriet Kloppenburg 04:40
  19.  Madara Furmane 05:37
  20.  Lotte Eikelenboom ST
  21.  Marianne Alleleijn ST

Full results

Women's Cycling on the BBC

Very little cycling is shown on television - ITV4 shows the Grand Tours and, sometimes, highlights of other events while Eurosport and Sky 4 show a few bits and pieces throughout the year. Women's cycling, as might be expected, is virtually ignored.

That's why all of us with any interest in it whatsoever need to press the red button on our remote controls at 19:00 on Saturday the 18th of February, as the BBC are broadcasting the Women's Sprint live from the World Track Championships in London. Not only will there be some top-notch racing (and track sprints are very fast indeed), it's also a rare opportunity for fans to deliver an unmissable message to the broadcasters that there are far more of us out here who want to see this sort of thing on our screens than they realise.

Like any organisation, commercial or otherwise, the BBC exists because there is a demand for it. For that reason, they try to show programmes that people will watch - let's show them that there's an untapped source of healthy viewing figures out here, ready for them to exploit.

Who's who at the Track World Cup

Bikes on the Box: all the cycling on British TV this week

On this day...

Maryline Salvetat

Maryline Salvetat, born today in 1974 in the French town of Castres, has been National Under-19 Road Race Champion on two occasions (1991, 1992), National Cyclo Cross Champion four times (2002, 2004, 2005 and 2007), World Cyclo Cross Champion (2007) and National Time Trial Champion (2007). Along the way, she's won the GP de France (1996), a Trophée des Grimpeurs (2006) and a string of important cyclo cross races as well as a silver medal at the 2005 National Mountain Bike Championship.

In 2010 Clara Hughes - the only Canadian athlete to have won medals in both the Summer and Winter Olympics and one of the most successful Canadian cyclists of all time - was Canadian flag bearer at the opening of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Melinda McLeod, born on this day 1993 in Australia, is a professional BMX rider widely recognised as one of the best jump riders in the world. She has won three gold medals at the World BMX Championships, enough to make her the most successful Australian BMX rider of all time.

Superprestige Middelkerke results

Elite Women

1. Daphny Van Den Brand WV Schijndel 00:39:25
2. Nikki Harris 00:08
3. Pavla Havlikova 00:13
4. Arenda Grimberg 01:08 
5. Helen Wyman 01:28 
6. Nancy Bober 01:53 
7. Joyce Vanderbeken 02:06 
8. Nikoline Hansen 02:21 
9. Amy Dombroski Crank Brothers 02:33 
10. Nicolle De Bie 03:35 
11. Christine Vardaros Baboco - Revor Cycling Team 03:40 
12. Margriet Kloppenburg 00:01 
13. Caitlyn La Haye 00:02 
14. Sandie Verriest ST