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Episode summary

As part of a special Podcasthon episode, I welcomed Ophélie Laffuge, president and co-founder of the association Les Femmes à vélo. The aim of this discussion was to take stock of the feminization of the cycling sector, and to detail the levers being used to transform an industry that is still largely male-dominated.

A passionate advocate of diversity

Ophélie Laffuge is no newcomer to the sporting ecosystem. An independent entrepreneur specializing in marketing and events for women’s sports, she works in particular with the French Cycling Federation (FFC). A cyclist since childhood, she now lives in Lyon without a personal vehicle, having used her bike for all her travels for the past 15 years. With five bicycles in her garage, she embodies the diversity of cycling, from vélotaf to VTT.

It was in 2021, with two cycling friends, that she launched her association “Les femmes à vélo” (Women on bikes) after realizing that the professional ecosystem remained closed to women, despite a growing practice.

The shock of the figures: a national study without appeal

To go beyond mere feelings, the association has spurred a national study on the place of women in the cycling industry, supported by France Vélo and presented on December 15, 2025 at the French National Assembly. The results reveal a major under-representation:

• An 18% feminization rate: For every 100 full-time jobs in the sector, only 18 are held by women.
• France’s second-to-last pupil: The sector is just ahead of construction (13%) and far behind industry and the automotive sector (25-30%).
• Disparities by branch: Production fared best, with 26% of women working in manufacturing plants. Conversely, only 5% of employees in the design and engineering professions are women.
• A secure glass ceiling: 50% of women working in the sector claim to have been victims of sexist and sexual violence (SGBV) during their career.

Structural barriers to hiring and retention

The study identifies several major obstacles. The first is cultural : many companies regard cycling as a “male bastion” by nature, thus absolving themselves of any proactive responsibility. Gender stereotypes also persist in the allocation of positions, often reserving attention to detail for women and technical or physical strength for men.

In addition to recruitment, the sector also struggles to retain its female talent. Women leave the industry much more quickly than men, often due to a lack of training in equality and the prevention of sexism.

Finally, companies sometimes believe they are taking action through inclusive communication, but often limit themselves to mentioning “M/F” on job offers, which proves insufficient to attract female candidates.

Towards a virtuous circle: mentoring and inclusive design

For the association, feminization is not just an issue of social justice, it’s an economic necessity. Ophélie Laffuge points out that with only 5% women in design, products (bikes, saddles, equipment) are still designed by men for men’s morphologies. Including women right from the design stage would enable us to offer adapted products, thus encouraging women to ride and, by extension, the recruitment of future professionals.

To support this change, Les Femmes à vélo is launching a pilot mentoring program in 2026. Twelve mentor-mentee pairs will be formed to enable experienced women to guide those wishing to progress in their careers.

At the same time, a free 20-question self-diagnostic has been put online on the France Vélo website to help companies assess their own maturity on these gender issues.

Conclusion

Commitment to the feminization of the bicycle industry involves visibility and networking. Ophélie Lafuge encourages women “not to ask too many questions” and to join the industry, where real opportunities exist. The association, run by six volunteers, offers an annual membership fee of 20 euros to support its lobbying and promotional activities.

Links

• Les Femmes à vélo website
• Linkedin
• Ophélie’s Instagram
• Podcasthon