We are more than happy to see a steadily growing number of female participants at TORTOUR, because we believe ultracycling is a fantastic sport for women. Good organization, a suitable race strategy, and lots of willpower are required – and not too infrequently, multitasking. In short, pure woman power!
That’s why today we want to introduce you to a lady who is a fantastic example of successfully balancing between different worlds. Eva Barnstorf works full time, is a single mom, and an active cyclist. Originally from Bavaria, she has lived in Switzerland for almost 20 years and is extremely active outside of cycling as well. Swimming (including ice bathing), yoga, strength training, and hiking are among her passions. Last year, she successfully completed the TORTOUR Ultracycling over 250 kilometers solo.
More and more women are discovering cycling for themselves. How did you get into it?
“I discovered my love for the bike at around 17, after my second knee surgery on the meniscus.” As a result, Eva rode around Lake Tegernsee every day – a 20 km recovery route – back then still on a mountain bike. The first road bike came later from her then-boyfriend as a Christmas present, along with an entry to the Cyclotour de Leman. “So it was clear: from 0 to 100. Or from 0 to 176 km around Lake Geneva.”
What do you think are the particular hurdles for women in cycling?
“I don’t think there are any real hurdles for us women anymore, except for our own mindset. A lot has changed, and women are welcome everywhere and always. From my perspective, it always depends on what you want and also seek for yourself. When my daughter was small, I simply never rode more than 100 km, just for time reasons. The ultracycling decision was a very spontaneous feeling last year, and I have no regrets!”
How do you prefer to ride and why?
“Of course, I really enjoy riding in company, but in my reality and my daily life, that’s usually not so easy to plan, so I often ride alone. But I also like and need that to switch off, process things, or recharge. Until last year, I never dared to ride with fast men because I didn’t want anyone to have to wait for me. However, it does have a different effect when you ride with ‘better’ riders. That’s undeniable.”
What advice would you give to a young female cyclist who is unsure about this sport?
“Do your thing. Do it for yourself, don’t compare yourself, and most importantly: have fun with the movement and just do it. The rest will come naturally. At first, I was also intimidated because many look so ‘pro’. But again: don’t judge a book by its cover.”
