Unclipped with Grace Brown: Are Shared Race Days Holding Women’s Cycling Back?

With all the major classic races now showcasing both the men’s and women’s races on the same day, Grace explores the thinking behind the shift, and why it may be limiting the long-term growth of women’s cycling.

Shared race days are often framed as progress for the women’s peloton, bringing greater visibility and aligning the sport’s biggest races.

But does the format actually deliver? Drawing on her own experience racing both structures, Grace unpacks the trade-offs in scheduling and attention, and where the current model may be falling short.

As interest in women’s cycling continues to grow, the question is whether shared race days are a stepping stone or a ceiling.