Audrey Cordon-Ragot has had a turbulent eight months after suffering a stroke, dealing with the collapse of B&B Hotels and ending her contract with Zaaf Cycling Team. But she is ready to begin anew with Human Powered Health and the confirmation that she will ride Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift on Saturday.
It might sound cliché to say that the famed and unruly cobblestones of the Hell of the North offer a metaphor for life, but to Cordon-Ragot, that is exactly how she feels about what she has called a “rollercoaster” and “crazy” experience.
And despite the ups and downs and her feelings of instability over the last few months, Cordon-Ragot plans to keep on pushing forward to keep her dreams in pro cycling alive.
“I just want to show the world that you just need to always fight for your dreams and you can do it if you keep fighting,” Cordon-Ragot said.
“Paris-Roubaix is exactly the race where you always have to keep fighting. You can crash so many times, you can puncture so many times and still win the race. This has basically been my life over the last months.”
Cordon-Ragot was officially registered with the Human Powered Health team by the UCI website just two days ahead of Paris-Roubaix Femmes, and two weeks after she resigned from the Spanish-registered Zaaf Cycling Team over allegations that the team has not paid rider salaries, which the UCI and Spanish Cycling Federation are currently investigating.
Cyclingnews has contacted the Zaaf Cycling Team to clarify the team’s financial situation, along with the allegations that it has not paid some riders and staff and allegations of a lack of professionalism, but the team has not yet responded.
The UCI has permitted Cordon-Ragot’s to register with a new team, ahead of the designated transfer window in June, due to the extenuating circumstances surrounding her departure from Zaaf.
The exemption, which she confirmed was granted to her after discussions with UCI President David Lappartient, has allowed her to sign with Human Powered Health and so continue her season with some semblance of stability and security as a fully-paid athlete racing on the Women’s WorldTour.
“It has been a big rollercoaster the last three weeks,” Cordon-Ragot said.
“Between deciding to quit [Zaaf Cycling Team] and looking for another team, understanding the UCI rules and that I perhaps wouldn’t be able to race before the first of June. Then finally being able to talk with the UCI and find a solution. So all together, It’s been…
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