French premium retailer, Café du Cycliste, celebrates Women’s Day 2022 with a tribute to the classic Milan San Remo race, whose female version stopped in 2005.

The race, ‘La Primavera’ or la ‘Classicisima’, known for being the longest of the 5 classic Monuments (almost 300km), had its first edition in 1907. It was from 1999 to 2005 when a shorter women's race, the Primavera Rosa, was organised alongside the men's. Trixi Worrack was the last one to win the race before it was stopped. 

A female team from Café du Cycliste went early in March on an early Women’s Day tribute to the sprinter classics. The discussion is this: Currently the women have the Trofeo Alfredo Binda in Lombardia on the same weekend as Milan–San Remo, and it is always a great race, but it's no la ‘Classicisima’.

Women want to see Milan-San Remo included on their schedule too. Of course, that’s not to say women's sport cannot or should not have their own specific events, but to achieve parity, things must be equally distributed; opportunities open to all.

While the ICU Women’s World Tour has 25 scheduled for 2022, the ICU World Tour has 38 races scheduled for men. It was only last year - 2021 - when Paris-Roubaix had its first female version, which was won by the British Lizzie Deignan. The pro cyclist told Cyclingnews how much she would like to have the race back in the ICU Women’s World Tour Calendar and the Italian Marta Cavalli joined her in expressing her desire to have back la Primavera Rossa. 

The ex pro cyclist Emma Silversides, said to Café du Cycliste: “I am frequently asked the question, 'Do you wish you were still racing, that your career spanned a different era; women's racing is thriving with so many more races and coverage that didn't exist for you?'

Yes, a big part of me wishes I could have competed in the events that now appear in the women's calendar (that didn't when I was professional). However, I am happy for the women who race now- they are enjoying the phenomenal growth of the last few years. That said, I suspect, and sincerely hope, that if they are posed the same question several years after their retirement, they can say a similar thing to me; women's cycling still has a long way to go... shall we start with Milan- San Remo?"

For more information or photos, please get in touch with Clara.s@cafeducycliste.com.