"Women of color making their mark in cycling's Tour de France Femmes, preluding the professionals' cycling event"
Ayesha McGowan's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Challenge: Empowering Women in Cycling and Beyond
Ayesha McGowan, a trailblazer in the world of cycling, is gearing up for a remarkable challenge – participating in the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift from July 22. This historic event marks the first time a women's edition of the Tour de France will be held, and McGowan is using it as an opportunity to raise funds and promote cycling, particularly women's cycling[1][2].
McGowan's efforts are directed towards Thee Abundance Project, an initiative she created that provides pathways into professional cycling for women of color. The funds raised will be used to bring a squad of elite riders to Europe, inspiring and facilitating the participation of women of color in cycling and racing[3].
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is not McGowan's first foray into elite competition. She has previously participated in the Red Hook Crit, an annual fixed-gear criterium, and the Tour of America's Dairyland, a criterium race described as a bike race surrounded by a block party[4][5].
McGowan's journey into cycling began when she picked up a bike to commute to music school in Boston. Her passion for the sport led her to work at We Bike NYC, an empowerment organization for women and marginalized genders, and to move to Brooklyn where she rode tandem bikes with people with additional needs[6][7].
Thee Abundance Project was also used as a fundraiser in 2021 to send women of color to the Tour of America's Dairyland in Wisconsin. McGowan's commitment to the project is evident in her efforts to eliminate barriers for women of color to try the race by covering housing, transportation, food, and people support[3].
McGowan emphasizes that the world has made her feel that the things she has to say are less important than other things, but she emphasizes that we can care about more than one thing and prioritize joy in a chaotic world[8]. She believes that interest in Black and BIPOC initiatives has dwindled since 2020, making it harder to reach a larger audience[9].
Donations can be made to McGowan's fund through the provided link[10]. McGowan can be followed on Instagram at @ayesuppose for updates on her training and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift challenge[11].
The goal of this challenge is not just to raise funds, but to use the event as a platform to promote cycling, especially women's cycling, while raising funds for Thee Abundance Project, a cause McGowan supports. This reflects her commitment to empowering others through cycling and fostering community growth around the sport[1][2].
[1] Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Official Website [2] Ayesha McGowan's Website [3] Thee Abundance Project [4] Tour of America's Dairyland [5] Red Hook Crit [6] We Bike NYC [7] Brooklyn Greenway Initiative [8] Interview with Ayesha McGowan [9] Black Girls Do Bike [10] Donate to Ayesha McGowan's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Challenge [11] Ayesha McGowan on Instagram [12] Emily Chappell to join McGowan for Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift
Sports are at the heart of Ayesha McGowan's ventures, with her participation in the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift serving as an opportunity to promote and fundraise for women's cycling. The funds raised will support Thee Abundance Project, an initiative aimed at providing pathways into professional cycling for women of color.
