If you’ve been watching the Tour de France Femmes without listening to the QueenStage, you’re missing out. The new QueenStage Women’s Cycling Podcast, produced by Ruckus Composites, is a super group of women from the cycling media world. The Queen Stage dropped its first episode in perfect alignment with Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, and it’s been cranking out daily episodes since, already rivaling the energy of a solo ride up Col de la Loze.
What is the Queen Stage?
Four well-respected and dynamic journalists – Molly Hurford, Rosael Torres-Davis, Anne-Marije Rook, and Betsy Welch – have united into a supergroup, championing women’s cycling. What do they cover in each episode? Think incisive tactics, unique storytelling, and a sometimes irreverent attitude that says: we care, we know, and we’re here to make this sport as compelling as it should be.
Who Are the Hosts?
- Molly Hurford brings a gritty narrative voice and deep commitment to equity in coverage. You might remember Molly from Comsummate Athlete, Shred Girls book (newest one is available now here), and Bicycling Magazine.
- Rosael Torres‑Davis merges cultural context with peloton passion. You’ll know Torries-Davis from her work in Cycling News, Bicycling, and other cycling magazines. You can follow her new Substack here.
- Anne-Marije Rook blends decades of journalism with real-life professional racing experience. Rook is a mainstay in cycling media. Covering everything from tech to the Olympics, getting interviews and access to the sport’s most dynamic athletes. You can follow her work as the North American Editor of Cycling Weekly.
- Betsy Welch offers on-the-ground reporting and years of experience covering the world’s most significant cycling events. Welsh offers a different take; she’s a very accomplished endurance athlete and has a keen sense of race analysis and dynamics. You can follow her new Substack here.
When Does the Queen Stage Start?
The Queen Stage is up and rolling with daily recaps and analysis. So far, episodes 1–5 cover everything from Marianne Vos’s early dominance, crashes that shook up GC riders like Longo Borghini and Vollering, to 41‑year‑old Mavi Garcia’s emotional solo win on Stage 2. The hosts don’t just anchor race highlights, they dig into tactics, team dynamics, emerging storylines, and yes, occasional cosmic curiosities like Mercury in retrograde.
Why it Matters: Women’s Cycling in the Spotlight
Women’s cycling routinely gets the short end of media focus. The QueenStage is looking to change that by providing the missing details. It’s authoritative, polished, and the coverage that fans of women’s cycling deserve. The tagline says it all: fast-moving, fiercely intelligent, and utterly inclusive. In a world where women’s racing still struggles for airtime, this podcast might be the finish-line bell we’ve needed.
For fans old and new—whether you listen via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or direct from queenstage.cc—you’re in for sharp dialogue, passionate coverage, and daily doses of cycling clarity.
