Half the Road

Professional cyclist Kathryn Bertine steps behind the camera for this lively and impassioned examination of gender inequity in pro cycling. Interviewees include Bertine's colleagues, along with athletic pioneers such as Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to compete in the Boston Marathon, and Chrissie Wellington, a four-time Ironman Triathlon champion. Bertine begins by tracing the history of pro cycling from the 1800s; back then, roads weren't race-worthy, so cyclists competed in velodrome settings, such as Manhattan's Madison Square Garden. Suffragettes embraced the bicycle, because it provided them with freedom of transportation, and women wanted to race, but had few opportunities to do so. The Tour de France remains a male-only competition, and women weren't able to compete in Olympic cycling until 1984. The 1990s ushered in longer races at higher altitudes, but media coverage and sponsorship remained scarce. The situation can be seen as a parallel to pro tennis before Billie Jean King and other players made a stand for equal pay, since 50% of female pro cyclists make less than $3,000 per year. While the women believe that the Union Cycliste Internationale—the sport's governing body—should provide them with a minimum base salary (as they do for men), former president Pat McQuaid doesn't feel that women have made enough of an impact to justify the expense. British silver medalist Emma Pooley says, “It's just so galling when you look at what the men have.” Adds Mexican racer Veronica Leal Balderas, “When you get in the professional level, you have to dedicate 100% of your day.” Bertine, who hails from St. Kitts, also looks at the UCI's age restrictions for women and the difficulty of Olympic qualification for competitors from small nations. A thought-provoking sports documentary, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)