Nominations open for most influential women in cycling 2025

Nominations have now opened for the hotly-anticipated 2025 edition of 100 Women in Cycling, the influential award that celebrates women pushing for progress one pedal stroke at a time. The list of winners will be announced by the national charity Cycling UK in autumn this year, with nominations remaining open until 5pm, Monday 28 July.

If you know someone who deserves to be recognised for inspiring others to make cycling part of their lives, it’s time to get nominating. The awards not only shine a light on inspiring game changers but also showcase the diversity among people who cycle.

Each year Cycling UK seeks to highlight the huge variety of ways women are getting more into cycling, no matter their background or ability. It’s not just about those who win races and break world records, although there’s a category for that – it’s about so much more. Separate to the competitive success of sporting heroes nominees, Cycling UK recognises the achievements of community champions, cycling influencers, and industry moguls. The charity celebrates everything from women cycling the school run, to community organisers and cycling club founders. Previous winners have included social media stars, filmmakers, active travel campaigners and local politicians, as well as bike mechanics, designers or leaders in the bike trade.

Sarah Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cycling UK, said:  

“It’s always an immense pleasure to announce the 100 Women in Cycling list. Each year we get the most extraordinary stories of women who have achieved remarkable things, empowering others to ride bikes and be more active.

“This year, our charity has centred its focus on the experiences of women who cycle, by highlighting the barriers that exist and what we can do to improve safety for all who want to get in the saddle. It feels more relevant than ever to platform women in this space making cycling more accessible, safe and appealing and I can’t wait to see all the nominations we get.”

In 2024, Miriam Dubois was recognised as a community champion for her work as leader of London’s first Deaf-cycling project. Her safe, fun and inclusive cycling sessions and group rides were organised through her work with Deaf Cycling UK, bridging the gap with British Sign Language and promoting deaf awareness.

Miriam said: “My aim is to make cycling inclusive for the Deaf community, by breaking barriers and sharing the joy of cycling with everyone.”

Also appearing on last year’s list in the cycle influencer category was Sheffield-based award-winning author, educator and founder of the Period Positive movement, Chella Quint OBE. With a blend of humour, art and design, her books Be Period Positive and Own Your Period help to improve menstrual literacy, and as a lifelong cyclist Chella has become a passionate advocate for inclusive infrastructure that will accommodate nonstandard bikes and trikes, championing cycling and all its benefits.  

In 2024, Maria Domenech Serrano, was celebrated for her contributions as an industry mogul through her work with The Bike Project, a workshop refurbishing thousands of bikes for refugees and asylum seekers each year in London.  Leading a team of mechanics and volunteers refurbishing up to 50 bikes each week, she remains an inspiration and brilliant role model for other women in the industry.  

For Rebecca Fitzgerald, cycling helped open up the world. For her work in Belfast as a key figure in the cycling community, ride leader and campaigner for more inclusive cycling infrastructure she was selected a community champion in 2024. Rebecca has been an influential figure in the Belfast Cycle Campaign and was instrumental in organising Belfast’s first Fancy Women’s Bike Ride.  

Fully sighted until the age of 19, Elizabeth “Lizzi” Jordan’s life changed drastically in 2017, when a rare E. Coli infection left her in an eight-week coma that resulted in multi-organ failure and permanent blindness. Lizzie had to relearn how to walk, but she found solace in sport, and after being recognised for her potential by British Cycling, she transitioned from running to a stoker role in tandem cycling. Her career has soared since then, and she was recognised as a sporting hero in 2024, after she claimed triple gold at the Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio. 

Nominations are open until 5pm, Monday 28 July and the public can nominate more than one person. Visit cyclinguk.org/100women/2025 to learn more.