Clara Copponi wins Richard Moore Award at Women’s Tour
Award honours late journalist and his contribution to women’s cycling
The Women’s Tour awarded Clara Copponi (FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine-Futuroscope) the Richard Moore Award at the finish of stage 6, honouring the award-winning cycling journalist who died in March this year at the age of 49.
The award was conceived by Women’s Tour organisers SweetSpot to celebrate Moore’s contribution to women’s cycling, and was given to the rider “who has gone above and beyond in their efforts to engage with the world’s media.”
“Richard Moore was one of the most loved, respected and pioneering journalists to ever cover the sport of cycling,” the race organisers said. “His brainchild, The Cycling Podcast, transformed how people worldwide engage and interact with the sport.”
“Together with colleagues Rose Manley and Orla Chennaoui, Richard was a regular at the Women’s Tour, as this was the first outside of the three men’s Grand Tours to be afforded daily episodes. These enhanced the profile and stature of the race, something we’re forever grateful for.
“The Women’s Tour wanted to honour his memory by acknowledging the rider in this year’s race who has gone above and beyond in their efforts to engage with the world’s media.”
Moore’s The Cycling Podcast colleague Rose Manley presented the award to Clara Copponi on the podium in Oxford on Saturday.
“I think I speak for everyone at The Cycling Podcast when I say that we were very touched that the Women’s Tour wanted to honour our friend Richard in this way,” Manley said. “He was always so highly respected by the riders of the peloton so it is fitting that the prize is awarded to a rider who reciprocates that respect to the media.
“Richard was one of women’s cycling’s greatest cheerleaders in the press room and was committed to bringing its stories to a wider audience with insight and innovation. The Women’s Tour always had a special place in his heart. In many ways the race’s focus on professionalism and growth very much aligned with his own outlook on cycling.
“From a personal perspective, Richard, Orla and I always had a fantastic time at the race. It was also always wonderful to meet so many racing fans who had been brought to the sport through Richard’s work. That was just a small part of a huge legacy of a great man who I hope we can continue to honour.”
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Copponi, who won the race’s opening stage, was given the award for her willingness to speak to the race’s media, always in a good mood, even outside of her native French language.
“I like doing interviews,” a pleased Copponi told Cyclingnews at the finish. “In English, I don’t know, sometimes it’s tough for me but I like to do them.”
This one's for you, Richard.#WomensTour #UCIWWT pic.twitter.com/jA3nBNWjXjJune 11, 2022
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Matilda Price is a freelance cycling journalist and digital producer based in the UK. She is a graduate of modern languages, and recently completed an MA in sports journalism, during which she wrote her dissertation on the lives of young cyclists. Matilda began covering cycling in 2016 whilst still at university, working mainly in the British domestic scene at first. Since then, she has covered everything from the Tour Series to the Tour de France. These days, Matilda focuses most of her attention on the women’s sport, writing for Cyclingnews and working on women’s cycling show The Bunnyhop. As well as the Women’s WorldTour, Matilda loves following cyclo-cross and is a recent convert to downhill mountain biking.