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She Rides

Author: Saar De Reu and Kristof De Muynck

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The podcast where Women’s Cycling Takes the Lead!
Powered by KDM Endurance Coaching, hosts Saar De Reu and Kristof De Muynck dive into the world of women’s cycling, from cyclocross mud to velodrome speed and the endurance of road racing.
With previews, reviews, and interesting guest, 'She Rides' brings you closer to the action and stories behind the sport.
65 Episodes
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Cycling is more than numbers on a results sheet. Karolina Perekitko opens up about how pressure shapes her racing, her self-worth, and her joy on the bike. From linking results to identity, to learning to remember how far she’s come, she shares why it’s time to talk about mental health in cycling — and why happiness matters just as much as performance. 
This winter track special dives into the fast, loud, and chaotic world of track racing — a part of the season that often gets overlooked while everyone focuses on cyclocross.Ida Krickau shares what it’s really like to step into the elite peloton at 19: longer races, tougher fields, school deadlines, new UCI rules, and the challenge of keeping the fun in cycling while growing up in the sport.In part two, Yuli Van Der Molen reflects on a year of crashes, comebacks, and rediscovering confidence on the track. From London and Copenhagen to the Euros, she talks about finding her rhythm again, racing in packed velodromes, and earning a new contract for 2026.A warm, honest episode about young riders learning, rebuilding, and finding joy during the winter track season.
In episode 49 of She Rides Saar talks with Robin Farina, General Manager of Cynisca, about building real pathways to the pro women’s peloton — and why sustained support and funding matter just as much as talent. Robin shares how Cynisca is creating opportunities for riders to grow, stay in the sport, and chase their full potential.Plus: stay till the end for an extra-extended latest-news segment, where we catch up on everything we missed over the last 2.5 weeks.
After a brutal crash and a long fight with concussion symptoms, Esmee Peperkamp opens up about the hardest comeback of her life — and how she found her way back to cycling, and to herself.She talks with Saar and Kristof about the pressure to race again too soon, why concussion care in cycling needs to change, and how recovery taught her to slow down, breathe, and celebrate the small wins.From team life to gravel freedom, Esmee shares how rediscovering simple joy on the bike helped her rebuild confidence, connection, and love for the sport.
Just a few days before this year’s Gravel World Championships, gravel world champion Kim Knaeps (age group 34-39) joins Saar and Kristof to dive into what the gravel scene is really like — and how to watch it with a bit more insight.From discovering cycling during COVID to combining motherhood, work, and training. Kim talks about the pressure that came with wearing the world champion jersey, why gravel racing feels fairer than road cycling, and what makes this discipline so unique.Recorded in the lead-up to the Worlds, this episode gives you everything you need to understand to enjoy the biggest gravel race of the year.
Kim Cadzow went from swimming in New Zealand to racing her bike in Europe — a huge jump that brought culture shocks, tough lessons, and proud moments like pulling on the Kiwi national jersey. She talks about the highs, the setbacks (including her “Miss February” year), and what it really feels like to carry New Zealand on her back. We also chat through the latest women’s cycling news and look ahead to the road races at Worlds — who’s strong, who might surprise, and what to expect.
Saar and Kristof look back at a chaotic week in l’Ardèche, where strong performances were overshadowed by frustration and heartbreak. They talk about what it means when a rider is physically at their best but no longer enjoying the racing, and how pressure can have such a big influence on people. Between laughter and a few “godverdomme” moments, they also throw in some CX, race recaps and transfer talk before shifting focus to the upcoming World Championships in Rwanda.
This week Saar and Kristof chat with Imogen Wolf, 19-year-old rider for Team Visma | Lease a Bike, to reflect on her first season in the WorldTour. From chasing childhood dreams to lining up at Paris–Roubaix and the Tour de France, Imogen shares the highs, the struggles, and the constant learning curve of stepping up from juniors to the pro peloton.She talks about the thrill of lead-outs at the Vuelta, the reality of getting dropped while still hitting PB numbers, and why Roubaix will always hold a special place in her heart. Beyond results, Imogen opens up about role models, recovery, media coverage in women’s cycling, and the dream of one day winning a rainy Roubaix.Tune in and hear from one of the brightest young riders in the peloton.
Eight months later, Saar catches up with Sarah Gigante on her strong but short season - from big wins and polka dot jerseys to beating the best, and the setback that means Sarah 4.0 is loading.
In this episode we chat with Valerie Demey, one of the most experienced riders in the women’s peloton. She first got on a bike at 13 and never looked back — racing through the early days when women often rode for nothing more than kit and a borrowed chair at the start line, to now competing in fully professional teams with buses, staff, and packed crowds. Over the years she’s lined up 13 times at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, raced countless Flemish classics, and represented Belgium on the biggest stages.Now, at 31, Valérie is riding her final season. She shares what it’s like to say goodbye to the peloton after more than a decade, her favorite memories from breakaways and Belgian races, and the evolution she’s witnessed in women’s cycling. Most importantly, she opens up about her hopes for the future — stepping into the team car as a sports director to guide and mentor the next generation.
After a tough Tour de France Femmes, Lotte Claesjoins Saar to reflect on illness, crashes, and the mental battle of a race that didn’t go to plan. The Omloop HetNieuwsblad winner talks about riding through setbacks, the power of the crowd, and the growing pressure around weight in women’s cycling. She shares honest thoughts on Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Demi Vollering, and why balance mattersmore than ever. With her team’s future uncertain, Lotte also opens up about thestruggle to find a new contract — even after a very solid season.A raw, real chat with one of Belgium’s bestclimbers.
In this special Tour de France Femmes preview, we dive deep into every stage,every contender, and every chaotic possibility ahead of the most excitingwomen’s race of the year. Originally set to feature last year’s Lantern Rouge, planstook a sudden turn — our planned guest had completely unsolvable internetissues, and Kristof faced a last-minute work crisis. But no stress: hero ConnieHayes, who you might remember from some episodes ago, jumped in and was an incredible interim co-host.Together, Saar and Connie unpack: All eight stages, from punchy sprints to brutal mountain climbsWhich sprinters can survive, who’s aiming for yellow, and the dark horses to watchPredictions from our She Rides guests — some bold, some biased, all brilliantThe emotional side of the sport: injuries, media pressure, and resilienceWhy growing women's cycling results in some big names staying homeWith behind-the-scenes insights from "Saaron Tour" and the perfect mix of analysis and unfiltered fan excitement,this is your go-to preview for the Tour de France Femmes. Grab your predictions sheet, hit play, and gethyped
In this episode, rising British star Cat Ferguson joins Saar and Kristof to reflect on her whirlwind journey from junior cycling to competing in the World Tour with Movistar at just 19 years old.Cat shares how she found her way to the bike, why she never doubted she wanted to be a professional athlete, and what it was like to sign a World Tour contract while still in school. She opens up about the pressures of going pro so young, the differences between junior and elite racing, and how she’s adapted to team life, including learning Spanish, sleeping in altitude tents, and adjusting to 9 p.m. dinners.The conversation covers her standout moments from the season so far, including riding the Vuelta, her first under-23 race coming up, and her hopes to race the World Championships in Rwanda. Cat also speaks about the lack of under-23 infrastructure in women’s cycling and the need for more development opportunities for young riders.This episode also includes a Giro Donne recap. With behind-the-scenes insights, honest answers, and a glimpse of Cat’s ambitions—including Olympic dreams and future classics success—this is a must-listen!
This week on She Rides, we’re joined by cycling commentator and new author Tim de Vries for a chat full of stories, passion, and the love of racing. Tim talks about how he got hooked on cycling watching Marianne Vos zoom ahead, and what it’s like working behind the scenes at Eurosport, getting ready for every twist, castle, and cobblestone of a big race.He also tells us about his new book, which shines a light on the forgotten history of women’s cycling — especially the Tour de France Femmes — and how he helped bring those old stories back into the spotlight.With nationals week just wrapped up, we dive into some of the big moments from across the races.Then we jump into the Giro Women preview: the stage routes, the top riders, time trial favorites, and why this race might be too tough for the sprinters. Expect thoughts on Reusser, Kopecky, Longo Borghini, and some of the overlooked outsiders.And of course, we talk more about Tim’s journey and his passion for cycling.Want to buy the book? -> https://www.bol.com/be/nl/f/-/9300000206800956/
Former pro cyclist Tara Gins joins us to talk about her experience with endometriosis, including riding through pain, collapsing on the bike, and only later being diagnosed after a ruptured cyst. She shares how long it took to get answers and what led her to become an ambassador for endometriosis awareness. We also discuss changes in women’s cycling over the past 15 years, the struggles Continental teams are facing, UCI rules and safety concerns, and preview several upcoming national championships.
In this episode of She Rides, Saar and Kristof are joined by Norwegian cyclist Sigrid from Team Coop-Repsol. Sigrid shares her unique journey into cycling, starting later than most after an injury led her to the sport. She talks about racing in a country where cycling isn’t a big sport, how riding through cold Norwegian winters shaped her, and her passion for racing by feeling rather than numbers. She also shares her excitement about lead-outs and the simple joy of pushing herself in races.We also talk about the latest standout performances, including Sarah’s strong climbing at the Tour de Suisse, Margot’s solid ride at the Tour de Pyrénées, and Marlen Reusser’s impressive form. Plus, we take a look at the UCI’s latest moves, from the new handlebar width rule to the calendar changes that still doesn't fix the scheduling problem for (smaller) teams.
This week on She Rides, we wrap up the Spanish block of racing with a rider who impressed in Burgos — Barbara Malcotti from Human Powered Health.Barbara talks about growing up in an Italian cycling family, breaking her pelvis in 2018, and how resilience and psychological support helped her stay in the sport. She opens up about her role models, her identity as a climber, and what it meant to help teammate Silvia Zanardi win the European title — a moment she still calls the best of her career.We also go inside the chaos of Stage 2 at Burgos, where Barbara gives her take on the crash and UAE’s controversial move. Plus, she shares honest thoughts on the gap between WorldTour and Continental teams, the pressure of time trials, and why she hopes to help girls with food and body image struggles after cycling.Tune in to get to know a talent steadily — but surely — climbing her way to the top.
In this episode, we talkwith Natascha Knaven to talk about what needs to change in women’s cycling —and where real progress begins. With years of experience building developmentteams, Natascha explains why focusing only on the top level isn’t enough, andwhy the sport has to grow from the base up. We talk about how young riders needspace to learn and make mistakes, why it’s risky to rush them into big teamstoo soon, and what really matters in coaching. Natascha also shares honestviews on how the race calendar is failing young women, how sponsors andfederations could do more, and why copying the men’s system doesn’t work. Thisepisode is all about building stronger pathways, supporting riders as people,and making women’s cycling better — not just bigger.
In episode 29 of She Rides, Saar and Kristof talk through the final stages of La Vuelta Femenina and the start of Itzulia Women. They look at Marlen Reusser’s big comeback, Misha Bredewold’s strong season, and FDJ’s teamwork in the mountains. There’s also a look ahead at Lotte Kopecky’s race plans, a chat about whether Grand Tours should be longer, and a thoughtful discussion about doping bans and second chances, with Shari Bossuyt’s case as a key example. It’s a relaxed but honest conversation about the latest in women’s cycling.
In this episode, we’re joined by sports nutritionist Gino Devriendt, who shares what it’s like to fuel performance in women’s cycling — from navigating the lack of scientific research to dealing with the sensitivity around weight, body composition, and recovery. Gino opens up about the grey zones in sports science, the hormonal variables still overlooked, and why personalized nutrition is key.We also dive into the latest headlines from the women’s peloton: the chaos of the Vuelta team time trial, surprise performances, our guests lighting up the race, Demi Vollering’s impactful interview, and Lotte Kopecky’s powerful Instagram post. Plus, we make a few bold predictions of our own.
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