Beyen himself also cycled at a professional level for 4 years, although that was not comparable at the time to the top performances of today. She has never ridden Paris-Roubaix herself. This competition was only organized for women for the 4th time this weekend.
“I like riding on cobblestones and would like to experience that heroism,” says Beyen. “The course is a lot shorter, but that applies to all women’s races. There is simply a physical difference between a male body and a female body.”
“The youth can no longer cope with losses”
Beyen is very ambitious, also when it comes to her media career. “I would like to present more and make as many reports about women’s sports. I think it is important that this is discussed more and more. Not just cycling, but also football, for example. The time is ripe for it.”
Beyen also passes on her love of sports to her children. Although she does not always agree with the message her children receive at school: “When there is a running race, the teachers say ‘participating is more important than winning’. I then respond: ‘That’s not true, guys. What you have to do is win, and above all, learn to lose.’”
“The youth are protected so much these days, they can no longer cope with losses.”
Will sportswomen ever earn as much as men? How bad can sport be for your body? How much time does Beyen have for cycling today? Listen to the podcast of ‘Touché’ via VRT MAX.
