Women’s cycling kept Kopecky fan Saar (16) going and now she’s hosting an international podcast about it: “It’s still often treated as the little sister of men’s cycling

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Source: Het Nieuwsblad, Dutch article by Brent Saey - https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20241224_94283966

Saar De Reu and Kristof De Muynck are creating an international podcast that dives into every aspect of women’s cycling. — © Elvire Van Ooteghem

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“We already have guests lined up until the first spring classics,” shares 16-year-old Saar De Reu, who recently launched her international podcast, She Rides. The idea for the podcast came from Kristof De Muynck, who reached out to her via social media. “As a cycling coach and social media manager for Team Coop Repsol, I was looking for a partner to create weekly episodes about the fascinating world of women’s cycling,” says Kristof.

Saar didn’t hesitate and eagerly accepted the offer. “It’s high time we stop treating women’s cycling as the little sister of men’s cycling. Women’s cycling has so many unique qualities and stories that deserve much more attention. It frustrates me when post-race analyses only dedicate two minutes to women’s cycling after an hour of discussing the men’s races.”

Nerve Pain

Saar’s passion for women’s cycling got a major boost in 2020 after she developed CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) following a surgical procedure, resulting in nerve pain in her foot. “After the diagnosis, I went through rehabilitation. Women’s cycling kept me going through a tough period, and I especially drew strength from Lotte Kopecky.”

Saar discusses every aspect of women’s cycling in the podcast She Rides. — © Elvire Van Ooteghem

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With the international podcast She Rides, Saar plans to release weekly episodes under the motto: Where women’s cycling takes the lead. “The podcast is entirely in English. Sometimes, we also feature guests, ranging from cyclists to team press officers. It takes a lot of work, but we want to give women’s cycling the attention it deserves.”

Kopecky Fan

From muddy cyclocross races and high-speed track events to the endurance challenges of road cycling, all disciplines are covered. “I also attend many races in person. Through this, I’ve come into contact with many people, including Lotte Kopecky herself,” says Saar.

“Her fighting spirit gives me the strength to push through my therapy sessions. Whenever Lotte competes, I try to be there. Last summer, I went to the Olympics in Paris three times to watch her race. I’m also incredibly excited for next year when I’ll follow the Tour de France Femmes from start to finish. She inspires me enormously.”

The She Rides podcast already has listeners from various countries and can be streamed on Spotify and Amazon Music.