The Cheer Squad was created by former pro Iris Slappendel to help give back to women’s cycling.
On stage 7 of the upcoming Tour de France Femmes, when the riders reach the upper slopes of the mythical Mont Ventoux, keep an eye on the roadside. Not long after the riders leave the forest behind and venture out into the legendary moonscape, they’ll reach the Fontaine de La Grave. It’s at that unassuming roadside water fountain, on a left-hand bend some 4.7 km from the summit, that one of the race’s biggest fan gatherings will take place.
Coordinated by former pro racer turned Eurosport moto commentator, Iris Slappendel, the Cheer Squad is an annual party on the roads of the Tour de France Femmes. A wholesome collision of worlds that brings riders of all abilities and interests to watch the biggest race on the women’s calendar.
For Slappendel, it all began as a way of giving back to a sport that has given her so much over the years.
“It started three years ago when the Tour de France Femmes started in Rotterdam, where I’m from,” Slappendel tells Escape’s Abby Mickey. “I just thought it would be so great to [give] something back [to] the women’s peloton. I raced myself … for many years, and you’re always focused on the race, but still, those people cheering on the side of the road – they have an impact. I never forgot about them. Even though you pass them quickly, it’s always something that sticks with you.
“And I thought, well, you know, women’s cycling is growing, and there’s so much happening. We have to celebrate it, but we also have to keep giving attention to women’s cycling.”
Image: The Cheer Squad
Giving back was part of the inspiration. So too were the many interactions Slappendel has had as owner and designer of the IRIS cycling apparel brand.
“In my new life, not as a pro rider anymore, I learned so much about the other kind of cyclists – women that just ride their bike for fun,” Slappendel explains. “They’re not focused on racing or getting faster or watts or whatever. They just want to have fun on their bikes, and I just noticed that there is so little connection between pro racing and the grassroots community, especially for women.
“When I ride with the guys here [in the Netherlands], they’re always talking about racing and Mathieu van der Poel and [Tadej] Pogačar, etc. But when I ride with women, they’re hardly ever talking about racing or women’s racing. So I thought I needed to get these two worlds connected in some way.”
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