The 5 best British female Olympic cyclists

Since the late 1990s, British cycling has received unprecedented levels of Lottery funding – and this funding has paid dividends. The past few decades have seen Team GB dominate the world stage and pick up medals left, right, and centre.

Unlike many other traditional pursuits, British cycling has been popularised largely by the accomplishments of women. Names like Laura Kenny and Victoria Pendleton have been synonymous with Olympic glory for decades, with these cyclists rightly sitting amongst their male teammates in the Team GB Hall of Fame.

To celebrate their success, we've rounded up 5 of the best British female Olympic cyclists past and present.

Nicole Cooke

Nicole Cooke was the first British female athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in cycling. She stormed to victory in the 2008 Beijing Games just six years after turning professional – and that same year, she broke another record.

After winning the World Championship Road Race, she became the first cyclist, male or female, of any nation, to become a Road Race world champion and Olympic gold medalist in the same year.

Her incredible achievements don’t stop there. She can lay claim to winning every major title in Road Racing, and she was the first Briton to win the Tour de France (later going on to win a second time).

Joanna Rowsell

Joanna Rowsell is perhaps best known for her incredible performances in the women’s team pursuit at London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics, as she helped bring home the gold medal for Team GB at both Games.

Her success has gone the distance – she’s still the World Record holder in the 3km and 4km team pursuit. Rowsell is also an ambassador of Alopecia UK, having had the condition since she was tenyears old, and is an inspiration to others who suffer from hair loss.

Victoria Pendleton

Born into a cycling family (her father was a former British champion), Victoria Pendleton was always destined for greatness in the sport.

The two-time Olympic gold medallist, who raced to victory in the 2008 and 2012 Games in Beijing and London, respectively, was once an unstoppable force in the sprint and Keirin events.

Since retiring from cycling, she’s had a hugely varied career, publishing a successful autobiography, taking part in Strictly Come Dancing, and becoming a competitive jockey in 2015.

Laura Kenny

Laura Kenny is Team GB’s most decorated female Olympian by far, having won four gold medals achieved at the 2012 and 2016 Games – one alongside Joanna Rowsell (above) in the team pursuit. 

Kenny had an illustrious junior career in the sport, winning medals on a national level from her teenage years. Together with fellow cyclist husband Jason, Laura has become one of the UK’s best known and most loved athletes and has even had a leisure centre in her hometown of Cheshunt named in her honour.

Rebecca Romero

Rebecca Romero is one of those uniquely talented athletes who has achieved international success at the highest level in two completely different disciplines.

Having initially won an Olympic silver medal in rowing, she later took up cycling due to a back injury. Following a lot of hard graft and an incredible rise through the ranks of the sport, Romero achieved another silver in the individual pursuit at the Beijing Games in 2008, which is no mean feat!

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