Without delving too deeply into the historical volumes of cycling vocabularly, the assumption is that a Randonneuse is a female Randonneur, in keeping with the French origins of a randonneur.

Traditionally the Long-distance cyclist has been male. However, more and more women are choosing cycling as a sport, lifestyle, recreation.

Slowly women are joining in male-dominate events. The numbers of female entrants in L’Etape du Tour is increasing, and regularly at La Fuga we hear husbands say that next year their cycling-wives would come along too.

Therefore, it would only seem fitting, that in the first year of the Rapha Randonnees, we would welcome our first Randonneuse.

Isabel Favaret from Rio de Janiero, Brasil, joined nine other randonneurs to cross the Pyrenees from Biarritz to Collioure in  6 days. Riding strongly each of the days and always with a smile, Isabel joined the elite group of Completing Riders for the Randonnee. No missed turns, no skipped cols, and no trips in the voiture balai.

Not finding the Pyrenees riding enough, post-randonnee, on her way to Paris, Isabel stopped in Provence to ride the giant – Ventoux.

Dates for the 2011 Rapha Randonnees are currently being finalised, and once again La Fuga has a full European program of sportives, randonnees and custom-groups. Please take a look at lafuga-staging.wlxyml6-liquidwebsites.com/beta to decide on your 2011 cycling experience.