A CAMPAIGNER and champion of women’s cycling has been named in Cycling UK’s 100 Women in Cycling.

The list features women from across the world, from TV personalities to Olympic and Paralympic medallists, and includes Suzanne Forup.

The Dunbar mum highlighted the efforts of those on the list who had not taken part at global events but had influenced cycling in their area.

She said: “It’s a privilege to be on the list but it is the women who are not Olympic winners that I am most proud of being alongside.

“One of my favourite other nominees is Anne Fraser in Glasgow, who co-founded the Glasgow Tandem Club.”

Anne is visually impaired and works to organise, lobby for funding, find support and encourage new riders.

Suzanne has worked on a range of cycling projects over the years, as Cycling UK’s head of development in Scotland but also in her spare time as one of the founders of the Women’s Cycle Forum Scotland to promote diversity and ensure women’s voices are heard.

She also coordinates a collaboration of more than 50 cycling organisations We Walk, We Cycle, We Vote working towards more investment in active travel.

She joins TV presenter and personality Gail Porter, four-time Olympic gold medal winner Laura Kenny, and Olympic gold-medallist Nicole Cooke in the cycling charity’s list recognising significant achievements in promoting women’s cycling.

The women have all been recognised in celebration of the work they have done to inspire others to get on their bikes as part of national cycling charities’ Women’s Festival of Cycling.

Suzanne, who lives with husband Mikael and eight-year-old son Sebastian, felt East Lothian was a beautiful place to ride a bike.

She said: “The roads around Dunbar are not perfect but we are lucky to have some cycle paths and some cycle provisions, but the back roads are a real joy. You can cycle for miles and miles on roads without much traffic on them.

“We have not been away this summer and it has been fantastic to have every weekend at home to go out exploring.”

It was colleague Lucy Watherston who nominated Suzanne for the award.

She said: “Suzanne is a dedicated and passionate cyclist who works tirelessly for better conditions for cyclists, as well as helping to encourage and motivate hundreds more people in Scotland to get back on their bikes.”

Although the number of women cycling has increased during lockdown, men are still cycling nearly twice as much as women. The Women’s Festival of Cycling aims to address that imbalance by inspiring more women to get in the saddle.