The Ardennes Triple is something that hasn’t been won very often by male riders, and no woman has ever accomplished it. Mostly because until this year, it hasn’t existed. While Amstel Gold and La Fleche both held Women’s events, Liege has only just got on the program. (We are waiting for you, Milan Sanremo, Paris-Roubaix and il Giro di Lombardia.)

Women’s racing has always been something we’ve worked to support, most actively when we included the full women’s race calendar in the VSP for the first time in 2012. I’m not sure what the VSP has done for Women’s racing exposure, if anything, but it certainly has helped those of us who participate in the VSP gain more awareness of how the women’s field is made up beyond the big and obvious names. And for those participants who have taken the time to do the research, it has made the difference in who wins the VSP overall and who doesn’t.

I’m thrilled to see such a major race take on a Women’s event, and I can’t wait to see Anna VDB take the first triple. And remember the obvious variation of Rule #47: Don’t ride triples, win triples.

Get your picks in, study the start list once it surfaces, and good luck!

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