Linda Jackson, founder and owner of the EF Education-Tibco-SVB Women’s Team, appreciates this gesture and hopes that other teams will think about what they can do.
“The fact that men are wearing it in the Tour de France is trying to make a noise in the world,” she said. “It’s just great. It’s just such a powerful statement ahead of the summer, which is really important for women’s cycling. It’s been over 30 years since the ASO hosted the Women’s Tour de France. Reaching the point is a monument to the pursuit of women’s equality.
“I don’t know what the other teams will do [in response] But to be honest, these guys, Palace and Rapha, just nailed their heads. They are the starting lineup. “
Jackson added that he could not understand why the British squad Ineos Grenadiers did not run a women’s team as well as a men’s team.
“What is the budget for the women’s team, one-twentieth of the budget for Ineos? They were able to cut millions and create a women’s team without any problems, but maybe I thank them. Should be because it means I get a British rider like Lizzie [Banks]Abi [Smith] And Zoe [Backstedt], Who we signed as Stagiarie this year. “
Vaughters admitted that he didn’t know how the rider would react when he was first told about the concept of the kit, but now he says “everything is really crazy about it.”
“We are really betting on the big picture of the team to promote the Tour de France for women,” he concludes. “In this Tour de France, we place a giant Venus symbol on the chest of every rider. You can’t press harder than that.
“Hopefully, some of the spectators watching the men’s Tour de France will be able to watch the women’s race.”