What does leading a Café du Cycliste ride involve?

MARIEL: Leading a Café du Cycliste ride is about much more than setting the pace. It’s about creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive space where everyone feels comfortable riding together. My role is to guide the group, take care of the dynamics and make sure the ride feels collective rather than competitive.

NICOLE: Leading a ride at Café du Cycliste means I’m part-time navigator, motivator and snack manager. I try to guide the route, set a pace that’s fun for everyone and make sure no one gets dropped, while keeping the energy high. It’s all about having a good day in the saddle, which also means making sure everyone feels safe. And yes, occasionally reminding people that the climb will end and that coffee and cake or Coke and french fries are still waiting for us.

ANAÏS: Being a ride leader for Café du Cycliste means making sure everyone has a good time, gets the most out of it and – most importantly – stops at the best hidden bakery in the Île-de-France region. More specifically for the Women's Rides, it means getting together simply because you want to ride, without unnecessary attacks or displays of strength: just to share a ride.

Why did you want to become a ride leader at Café du Cycliste?

MAYA: I wanted to become a ride leader at Café du Cycliste because of the strong sense of community I’ve experienced here. Since the first day I moved here and walked into the Café I immediately felt welcomed, and that I’d love to play an active role in fostering and growing that community – particularly among women riders.

NICOLE: Cycling gave me confidence, strength and freedom, and I wanted to pass that on. Café du Cycliste combines performance with lifestyle and community. That balance really speaks to me. Fast legs, good style, and a great, open-minded community.

What do you like most about supporting a ride?

YOANA: The conversations. The random deep talks mid-climb. Seeing someone get stronger over time and noticing their progress. And, of course, the friendly little competitions.

MAYA: What I enjoy most about supporting a ride is seeing everyone genuinely having a good time. Whether it’s the conversations at a regroup stop, sharing a coffee at the end or simply hearing the buzz of people chatting as we roll along, those moments of connection are what make the ride special.

NICOLE: That moment when someone says, “I didn’t think I could do that,” but in the end they do! Watching riders surprise themselves is better than any PR. I’m so happy for all the unexpected goals, the happy faces and when someone finds new friends.

What does cycling mean to you today?

ANNEMA: Cycling is part of my daily life. I can't go a day without talking about cycling. As soon as my mind is full, cycling allows me to quickly escape and focus on something else. I love seeing the countryside, stopping to admire the landscapes or the adrenaline rush you get on the descents.

MARIEL: For me, cycling is discipline, presence and freedom. It’s how I connect with my body and clear my mind – but also how I test my limits. It’s about showing up consistently and pushing a little further each day both physically and mentally.

ANAIS: So many things! It's both a way to push myself, to feel powerful alongside extraordinary women in racing, and also a way to clear my head and marvel at every turn during my training or bikepacking trips.
       
MAYA: Cycling has become my happy place. It’s how I clear my head, challenge myself and connect with my local community all at once. No matter what kind of day I’m having, I always feel better after a ride.

As a woman, have you faced any obstacles or challenges in the cycling world? Have you experienced sexism on the bike?

MARIEL: It's mostly through subtle things – being underestimated, unsolicited irrelevant advice, assumptions about ability – or it appears in effort, like when you pass a man and suddenly the effort escalates. It’s rarely explicit, but sometimes it’s present. I’ve learned to trust my experience, focus on my own pace, and support other women.

MAYA: Cycling is still a male-dominated sport, and in many ways it was originally designed around men’s bodies. As much as I love my bike, you can feel that sometimes as there are details women have to think about that men often don’t, such as making sure the fit truly works for our anatomy – or, when I got my bike, you could tell the default saddle wasn't designed for me. How women’s bodies are built and function are different from men’s, that’s just science, and it’s important to acknowledge that difference and adapt as needed. The biggest challenge, though, has been being underestimated. There have been times when men assume I won’t be able to keep up. Sometimes I’m riding at a more relaxed pace simply because I want to chat with a friend or I don’t feel like going all-out that day and it’s been interpreted as not being capable. Meanwhile, when men ride slower, no one questions their ability to complete the ride. I’ve noticed that as a woman, if I’m not pushing hard, people sometimes feel the need to worry about me or “help” me. So there’s this subtle sense that you have to prove you’re fully capable, even when you don’t feel the need to prove anything at all. That said, those moments have also made me more confident. I know what I’m capable of and I ride for myself, not to meet someone else’s expectations.

What would you say to someone who tells you, “Cycling isn’t a sport for girls”?

NICOLE: I’d say, "Funny, my legs didn’t get that memo!" But seriously, sport has no gender or age. Everyone should do what they enjoy! Just do it whatever it is and have fun.

MARIEL: I’d say cycling isn’t a sport for genders, it’s a sport for humans. Strength, endurance and passion aren’t defined by who you are, but by how you show up.

YOANA: Do people still think this way? The last few years have completely proven that wrong. Cycling has become incredibly popular among women – and it suits us so well. There’s strength, endurance, strategy, community… it’s for everyone.

What would you tell a woman who’s afraid to join a group ride?

MARIEL: That she doesn’t need to be “good enough” to belong. Group rides are about sharing the road, learning together, and building confidence, not proving anything. When I started cycling, I didn’t know how to ride in groups and I was always being dropped. But that didn’t stop me: that actually motivated me to improve and to become strong enough to keep up.

ANNEMA: Everyone goes at their own pace. No one has anything to prove. We're all there for each other. We really talk, we're not going full gas. The groups are there to improve, gain confidence and participate in the same thing that everyone loves: cycling.

ANAÏS: The hardest part is getting to the meeting point. Everything else is a bonus! We often think we won't be strong enough, that we'll never make it, but that's okay – it happens to everyone. The most rewarding part is the next ride, when you realize you made it to the end because you persevered.

YOANA: Everyone was new once. The only difference between a beginner and a confident rider is that the confident rider showed up once. So come :)

What’s your favorite road?

MARIEL: In Mallorca, the Tramuntana roads – I enjoy climbing, especially the quieter climbs where you get to enjoy the landscape.

MAYA: Route de la Turbie between La Turbie and Eze. You crest the hill and suddenly have the most picturesque views of the French Riviera laid out in front of you. Every time I ride it I can’t believe that this is where I live and these are my home roads.

ANNEMA: My favourite road is the Col St Roch via Coaraze.

ANAIS: All the roads of the Chevreuse Valley near Paris, but in my heart the number one is still the Ballons d'Alsace ridge road.

YOANA: My everyday ride that still amazes me – even after five years – is the classic Col d’Èze. It’s absolutely perfect for a short training session before or after work. If I have more time, I love exploring the mountain roads: Col de la Bonette, Col de la Lombarde, Gorges de Cians, Roquesteron.

What's your favorite pastry during a coffee ride?

NICOLE: Easy. Apple cake with lots of crumble, or sometimes a good citrus cake alongside a cold lemon soda or espresso.

ANNEMA: A pain au chocolat!

YOANA: I guess I’m a victim of the pistachio trend. At the moment, my mission is to try every pistachio croissant in France and Italy. In summer, I love a real Italian gelato – and yes, pistachio again.

ANAIS: Whatever pastry has the most chocolate, it's non-negotiable!