> Beryl begs the question: Britain fielded quite a few top female cyclists....
> did France or Italy during the CR period?
Women's cycling did not truly become widely accepted on an international level until the late 70's. Before this, participation, rewards and recognition were severely limited. It wasn't in fact until 1984 that participation levels were sufficient to start awarding Olympic medals and only in 1987 did the UCI even begin differentiating between juniors and 'elite' women riders at the Worlds. The participation rates then further increased sufficiently to expand the number of competition categories at the worlds in 1988, 1995 and 2002. The first world championships for the initial three categories of road, track sprint and track pursuit date from 1958. The federation in charge of British cycling at the time was one of the prime movers and instigators of these first women's world championships, largely due to the number of British women riders. The first women's road quadruple world champion was the Belgian Reynders. If I am not mistaken, Reynders never lost a World Championship road race to Beryl Burton in the 5 times they raced against each other (Reynders had 4 firsts and one second place.) The first women's sextuple track sprint world champion was the Soviet Ermolaeva who for good measure added 8 more podium placements (she was on the podium 14 times in 16 years). In the pursuit discipline of the worlds, the first big stars were again Reynders and Burton with Burton here being able to show up Reynders by winning 5 world championships against the 3 of Reynders. The biggest star was however the Soviet Garkushina who won 6 world championships. So Burton's accomplishment were definitely among the best of her period. In the modern era, once participation, recognition and rewards became more important, two of the glowing stars, both first coming on the scene in the CR-period are:
Maria Canins of Italy, who began racing bikes when already well into her 20's, despite the advanced age at which she started, she won:
2 Tours of France Féminin 2 Tours of the Aude 2 Tours of Norway 1 Tour of Colorado 1 Tour of Italy 1 Tour of the Drôme 4 Tours of the Adriatic 2 time trial victories in the French Grand Prix 4 international time trial victories, Les Herbieres 1 Tour of Sicily 6 times Italian road-cycling champion 4 times Italian time trials champion Once Italian track-cycling champion Once Italian Cross Country M.T.B. champion Twice World Cross Country M.T.B. champion Once 50 km. time trial relay World Champion 3 times silver medallist in the World Championships Twice bronze medallist in the World Championships 2 Olympic appearances: Los Angeles (arriving in fifth position) and Seoul (group final sprint)
She has also come second 83 times, including: 3 Tours of France 1 Tour of Colorado 1 Tour of Norway 1 Tour of the Aude 1 Tour of Italy
and then if that was not sufficient, she also was a world class Nordic skiing star, winning:
15 times Italian champion in the various distances 10 consecutive victories in the "Marcialonga" race 12 victories in the Pusteria Ski Marathon 7 victories in the Dobbiaco - Cortina race 8 victories in the Val Casies marathon 1 victory in the legendary Vasaloppet race (Sweden) 1982 - Czechoslovakia: best female placing in the Nordic skiing world cup 1982 - Took part in the World Championships in Oslo 1983 - Took part in the pre-Olympics in Sarajevo, coming in the first ten 11 times Veteran World Champion (over 30) 1997 - World Champion in the Winter Triathlon
Jeannie Longo of France started racing at age 21 and won her first French National title the same year in 1979. She also won:
Road racing:
Olympic Games: gold medal in 1996 and silver medal in 1992 for the road event; silver medal in 1996 against the clock World Champion: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1995 and against the clock in 1995, 1996. French Champion from 1979 to 1989, in 1992, 1995 and against the clock in 1995 Tour de France: 1987, 1988, 1989 Colorado Tour (United States): 1981, 1985, 1986, 1987 Tour of Colombia: 1987, 1988 Tour of Norway: 1987 Tour of Texas (United States): 1984, 1985
Track racing: World Pursuit Champion in 1986, 1988, 1989; and in points racing in 1989 French Pursuit Champion from 1980 to 1989, in 1992 and 1994; and in points racing in 1986, 1989, 1992.
Then at age 37 set the women's world hour record at 48.159 km (yes, that is 2.5 km more than Coppi's record)
-- Steven Maasland Moorestown, NJ
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mick Butler" <pariscyclesuk@hotmail.com>
> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2004 4:43 PM
> Subject: [CR] Re: British Cycling and World Success
>
>
> > How about Beryl Burton probably the greatest all round racing cyclists
> ever.
> > More World Championships they you can wave a stick at. Lance eat your
> heart
> > out
>
>
> Thanks, Mick... we never talk about female cyclists like Beryl Burton. She
> was pure class. And associated, I believe, with Hercules which in the 1950s
> was a major player in UK cycle sport.
>
> Here's an excellent write-on her life and career:
>
> http://www.thebikezone.org.uk/
>
>
>
> Peter Kohler
> Washington DC USA