British Cycling and the Women's Cycle Racing Association (WCRA) are teaming up in a new partnership to boost numbers of women and girls in cycling as well as supporting British Cycling's Developing Excellence programs.
The partnership replaces BC's existing Women and Girls Commission and is designed to pool the experience and expertise of both organisations. One of the main focuses will be to link in with BC's ongoing Competition Review in order to encourage women and girls to start and to stay involved in cycling. It will also help the most talented to progress to the highest levels.
WCRA key volunteers will benefit from the same membership offers as British Cycling's key volunteers. In addition, new and existing members of the WCRA who have not been members of BC before will now be able to benefit from the free bronze membership promotion and upgrade options currently being implemented through British Cycling Clubs.
Jonny Clay, British Cycling's Competition and Events Manager welcomed the collaboration. "This partnership is a real step forward towards increasing the opportunities for women and girls in the sport of cycling," he said. "It will build on the fantastic work that has been done by the WCRA over the years. It will also ensure that British Cycling's current work within the Competition Review and the Young People and the Developing Excellence programmes is integrated seamlessly with the work of the WCRA, for the benefit of all women and girls in the sport."
Helen Ellis, WCRA's leading official was similarly enthusiastic. "This is a fantastic opportunity to take women's and girl's cycling to new levels, from grassroots to international racing. The WCRA has spent 50 years campaigning for more recognition to the efforts of women within the sport and at last the opportunity is here. I am particularly excited about the impact this will have on the younger riders who are the future of both the WCRA and British Cycling."
