Philippa York
Philippa York is a long-standing Cyclingnews contributor, providing expert racing analysis. As one of the early British racers to take the plunge and relocate to France with the famed ACBB club in the 1980's, she was the inspiration for a generation of racing cyclists – and cycling fans – from the UK.
The Glaswegian gained a contract with Peugeot in 1980, making her Tour de France debut in 1983 and taking a solo win in Bagnères-de-Luchon in the Pyrenees, the mountain range which would prove a happy hunting ground throughout her Tour career.
The following year's race would prove to be one of her finest seasons, becoming the first rider from the UK to win the polka dot jersey at the Tour, whilst also becoming Britain's highest-ever placed GC finisher with 4th spot.
She finished runner-up at the Vuelta a España in 1985 and 1986, to Pedro Delgado and Álvaro Pino respectively, and at the Giro d'Italia in 1987. Stage race victories include the Volta a Catalunya (1985), Tour of Britain (1989) and Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (1990). York retired from professional cycling as reigning British champion following the collapse of Le Groupement in 1995.
Latest articles by
![UAE Team Emirates team's Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey and Team Visma - Lease a Bike team's Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard cycle in the final kilometers of the 11th stage of the 111th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 211 km between Ãvaux-les-Bains and Le Lioran, in the Massif Central mountains of central France, on July 10, 2024. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xbcJTcAvEPsjwPKYoD6nN9-320-80.jpg)
It’s game on at the Tour de France after Pogačar and Vingegaard clash in Le Lioran - Philippa York Analysis
By Philippa York published
Analysis Our expert and former Tour stage winner on the significance of the mano-a-mano battle in the Massif Central
![Jonas Vingegaard follows Tadej Pogačar during the Tour de France gravel stage](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NguhBbvD6m5a9C2kYv5Q4-320-80.png)
Jonas Vingegaard isn't going to race his Tour de France until terrain suits him – Philippa York Analysis
By Philippa York published
Analysis Our expert pundit looks back at the opening week and examines the state of play among the 'big four' GC favourites
![British Mark Cavendish of Astana Qazaqstan pictured at the start of the second stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico cycling race, from Camaiore to Follonica (198km), Italy, Tuesday 05 March 2024. BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM (Photo by DIRK WAEM / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP) (Photo by DIRK WAEM/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/biN6HfKTvk9ku9zYqng23X-320-80.jpg)
'Mark Cavendish is by far Britain’s greatest bike rider' - Philippa York on the Manxman's final Tour de France
By Philippa York published
Member-exclusive It's not (only) about the record, it's about a fitting farewell
![VILLARSSUROLLON SWITZERLAND JUNE 15 LR Stage winner Adam Yates of The United Kingdom and UAE Team Emirates Yellow Leader Jersey and Joao Almeida of Portugal and UAE Team Emirates Black Points Jersey cross the finish line during the 87th Tour de Suisse 2024 Stage 7 a 1182km stage from VillarssurOllon to VillarssurOllon 1248m UCIWT on June 15 2024 in VillarssurOllon Switzerland Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nqBZRwK6iEUsV48SVZ94R7-320-80.jpg)
UAE Team Emirates' stunning show at the Tour de Suisse sets the stage for a dominant Tour de France from Tadej Pogačar
By Philippa York published
Analysis Philippa York on how Adam Yates and João Almeida's dominance highlights strength of Slovenian's supporting cast
![Primoz Roglic took overall victory at the Criterium du Dauphine](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9DkH2xgFC3g38DLYjdvrtE-320-80.jpg)
A work in progress - Roglič, Evenepoel and the road from the Dauphiné to the Tour de France
By Philippa York published
Analysis Philippa York assesses a key week in the build-up to July as Jorgenson progresses and Gee breaks through
![Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) on the charge again on stage 15, the queen stage of the 2024 Giro d'Italia](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xjA2DoQEfQjzCxXinuXhF-320-80.jpg)
Philippa York Analysis: how Tadej Pogačar fulfilled Giro d'Italia expectations
By Philippa York published
Analysis The final conclusions from the first Grand Tour of 2024
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
High and Mighty: Pogačar vs Vingegaard is far from over – Philippa York analysis
With the Alps still to come this week, the battle for yellow is not done and dusted -
It’s game on at the Tour de France after Pogačar and Vingegaard clash in Le Lioran - Philippa York Analysis
Our expert and former Tour stage winner on the significance of the mano-a-mano battle in the Massif Central -
Jonas Vingegaard isn't going to race his Tour de France until terrain suits him – Philippa York Analysis
Our expert pundit looks back at the opening week and examines the state of play among the 'big four' GC favourites
-
Galibier outlined the current hierarchy at the Tour de France - Philippa York analysis
Vingegaard's recovery a revelation but Pogačar is as good as he was on the Giro -
'Mark Cavendish is by far Britain’s greatest bike rider' - Philippa York on the Manxman's final Tour de France
It's not (only) about the record, it's about a fitting farewell -
UAE Team Emirates' stunning show at the Tour de Suisse sets the stage for a dominant Tour de France from Tadej Pogačar
Philippa York on how Adam Yates and João Almeida's dominance highlights strength of Slovenian's supporting cast
-
A work in progress - Roglič, Evenepoel and the road from the Dauphiné to the Tour de France
Philippa York assesses a key week in the build-up to July as Jorgenson progresses and Gee breaks through -
Philippa York Analysis: how Tadej Pogačar fulfilled Giro d'Italia expectations
The final conclusions from the first Grand Tour of 2024 -
Philippa York Analysis: Tadej Pogačar has made his point at the Giro d’Italia, now he can control rather than crush
Geraint Thomas, Daniel Martínez and the various running battles of the final week