'I really started right at the bottom' – After being told she was 'too old', this rider got a pro contract and is now set to ride the Tour de France

Frankie Hall’s journey to professional cycling defied conventional expectations, culminating in a contract with the French ProTeam Mayenne Monbana My Pie at the age of 30. After years of being told she was too old to break into the sport’s elite ranks, Hall’s persistence paid off when she signed a two-year deal earlier this year. Her debut with the team came at Milan-San Remo, a WorldTour race where, despite a crash, she experienced the thrill of competing at the highest level and hearing her name cheered on the climbs. Hall’s path to professional cycling was unconventional. Originally a hockey player, she only took up cycling during university rehabilitation after a knee injury. Starting from scratch, she quickly made her mark on the British domestic circuit, winning notable races such as the Otley and Lancaster Grand Prix in 2024. To gain more experience, she deliberately stepped down to the fourth tier of cycling, racing across four continents in 2025 while supporting herself through coaching and guiding roles. Despite consistent results, including multiple wins and top-10 finishes, teams repeatedly cited her age as a barrier to signing her. Undeterred, Hall continued to push forward, securing a significant UCI-level victory in El Salvador in early 2026. This success prompted Mayenne to invite her for testing, leading to the contract that transformed her career. Relocating to Girona, she embraced the professional environment, describing the support and structure as a stark contrast to her previous solo efforts. Her race calendar now includes prestigious one-day classics and the Vuelta Femenina, with the Tour de France Femmes set to be her Grand Tour debut. Hall’s story resonates as a testament to resilience and the evolving nature of women’s cycling, where talent and determination can overcome traditional barriers. She reflects on the newfound belief her team has in her abilities, a confidence she had rarely experienced outside her personal circle. As she prepares to compete on cycling’s biggest stages, Hall’s journey offers inspiration to riders who may feel overlooked due to age or unconventional backgrounds, highlighting the sport’s increasing openness to diverse pathways into the professional ranks.