Documentary with trailblazing Redlands athlete shown by AAUW

Close to 200 people gathered March 8 at the Finkelstein Performing Arts Center at Crafton Hills College for a screening of “Breakaway Femmes,” a documentary about the history of the Women’s Tour de France.

The event, organized by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), included a discussion with Redlands resident and former professional cyclist Patty Peoples.

“It took us over two years of hard work to get this film from Australia here today,” said Kathryn Brown, co-president of AAUW, as the event came to an end. “It’s been shown once in the United States, in New York City last fall.” She added, “That’s why we were so excited about screening it today.”

At first, Redlands resident and nationally recognized multisport athlete Patty Peoples introduced the documentary and spoke about how she earned a spot on the U.S. team in the first Women’s Tour de France.

“My journey to become a member of the team is quite unusual,” she said.

In 1983, Peoples decided to become a full-time triathlete and won the East Coast Triathlon Championship for women overall. “I had a very fast bike time,” she said. “In December [1983] I get a call from the Olympic Training Center.”

The Olympics were taking place in Los Angeles that summer, and female cyclists competed in cycling competitions for the first time. High-ranking cyclists were chosen for either the Olympics or the Tour de France since the events ran simultaneously.

“Sometimes all you need is one person who supports you,” Peoples said. “[My mom] said you have a window of opportunity here; you have to go through it because if you don’t you will regret it.”

In the film “Breakaway Femmes,” female athletes from all over the world described their experiences participating in the Women’s Tour de France from 1984 through 1989.

The women raced the full 21-day race during those six years. The movie addressed the rivalry, the drama, and trials for the women who finished the arduous multi-stage race. Archival photos told the story of when, in 1955, 50 female athletes raced against each other and succeeded in five stages of the Tour de France. When the Women’s Tour de France returned in 2022, a group from the 1980s Women’s Tour de France cheered on the sidelines. Since then, women have competed in eight stages each year.

“I like to work hard and I like to race hard,” Peoples said prior to the movie. The documentary showed her doing just that. Marianne Martin on the U.S. team won in 1984, and the U.S. won as a team that year. Peoples also participated in 1985.

After the film concluded, fellow professional athlete and two-time U.S. National Champion cyclist Penny Davidson Lundgren interviewed Patty Peoples.

“We were all friends right away, because as soon as we saw each other, we were back, but we weren’t being competitive,” Peoples said of the reunion she attended at the Tour de France in 2023. The Tour athletes told them, “Thank you, thank you! We wish they would give us 21 days again.”

In 2023, Peoples retired from racing with a record of more than 45 wins. She was undefeated in her division from 2010–2023. “I stopped competing in 2023. The main reason was I no longer wanted to train at that level week in and week out,” she said.

Fitness is still a big part of Peoples’ life. She plays pickleball three times a week at the Redlands Community Center and still rides her bike.

One experience stood out to Peoples at the 1984 Tour de France: “The Alpe d’Huez with 23 switchbacks and you come around and you look up and how much further?” she said. “That and just the crowds. It’s overwhelming and motivating.”

“You don’t want to let spectators down,” she added. “You are there to represent your country, your team, and I’m gonna do the best that I can and that’s all I can do.”

The competitive streak has not left Peoples. “I do like to stay at a certain level just in case if I’m out there riding and someone is challenging me,” she said with a smile. “If I see someone, I like to see if I can catch them.”

The discussion ended with gratitude to the audience. “Thank you for hearing the stories,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to live your lives and step out of your comfort zones.”

The Redlands Bicycle Classic is the longest continuous professional stage race in the United States, with five days of racing. Executive Director Marc Shaw spoke at the event and mentioned how the Classic includes women.

“It’s really been equal across the board,” Shaw said. There are over 130 female riders each year, and they receive the same amount in prize money as their male counterparts, he said.