Women pro cyclists take a knee during national anthem at US Pro Nationals to protest abortion ruling

Start line of the US National Championship road and criterium turned into a silent protest after Roe v. Wade was overturned

Riders take a knee
(Image credit: Clara Beard // Future)

Most of the women's elite field at the U.S. Pro Road Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee, took a knee during the singing of the U.S. National Anthem at both the criterium race on Friday and again at the road race on Sunday to protest the abortion ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 24th. 

Following the time trial races on Thursday, criterium racers got their chance to vie for the Stars and Stripes on Friday evening. After a day off, the road race concluded the national championships on Sunday.

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Anne-Marije Rook
North American Editor

Cycling Weekly's North American Editor, Anne-Marije Rook is old school. She holds a degree in journalism and started out as a newspaper reporter — in print! She can even be seen bringing a pen and notepad to the press conference.

Originally from The Netherlands, she grew up a bike commuter and didn't find bike racing until her early twenties when living in Seattle, Washington. Strengthened by the many miles spent darting around Seattle's hilly streets on a steel single speed, Rook's progression in the sport was a quick one. As she competed at the elite level, her journalism career followed, and soon she became a full-time cycling journalist. She's now been a cycling journalist for 11 years. 

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