Club members brave West Yorkshire moors in bid for more gender parity

Dressed in suffragette attire, the peloton of dedicated peddlers rode the feared route past Ilkley’s Cow and Calf Rocks, which will play host to the finish of the Tour’s second stage next Friday.

Despite a huge take-up in the number of female cyclists at an amateur level, governing bodies in the sport stand accused of dragging their feet when it comes to increasing parity at the elite level.

Vicky Mathwin, who founded Queensbury Queens two years ago, said they were inspired to make the stand by the six-year-old daughter of a member, who while watching a professional race, asked: “So only boys can race then?”

She said: “While the Tour de Yorkshire has been fantastic for the area, and the sport in general, we cannot shy away from the fact that women still do not have equity in cycling.”