Changing the Start Line

Images by Unroad, Surfchaser Photo, The Orange Helmet Guy, Bike Post, and Gino Takes Photos.

Distance To Empty, in partnership with Belgian Waffle Ride launches the first Women Only Start with no drafting rule at BWR Arizona

Our 2026 season didn’t begin with just a result.

It began with a start line.

This year marked the first ever Women Only Start with a no-drafting rule for podium competitors at Belgian Waffle Ride Arizona, and for Distance To Empty it represented something much bigger than a race.

Months earlier I reached out to BWR founder Michael Marckx to share what we are building through Distance To Empty and to ask if there might be an opportunity to collaborate.

My goal was simple.

Create a space where women could line up knowing they were racing women for a podium.

Equal start.
Equal race experience.

When women are given the opportunity to race women, something powerful happens.

I’m incredibly grateful to Michael and the BWR team for being open to the idea and willing to collaborate. On short notice we worked together through the logistics and challenges that come with introducing something new to a large scale event. Their willingness to try something new is an important step toward growing women’s participation in the sport.

This past weekend in the Arizona desert, that vision became reality and laid the foundation for future events.

Standing on that start line surrounded by women ready to race was a dream realized.

Why We Chose to Race the BWR Wafer Distance

One of the intentional decisions our team made this season was to race the Elite Wafer distance.

Distance To Empty has always been about leading by example. Over the years I’ve had countless conversations with women who say,

“I’m just racing the shorter distance.”
“I’m only doing the Wafer.”

That mindset is something we want to help change.

Our goal is to get more women to the start line, help them have a positive race experience, and encourage them to invite their female friends to participate.

The Wafer distance plays a critical role in that.

For many women, from professionals to recreational riders, life is full. Many have full time jobs, families, and responsibilities that make training for the longest distance races unrealistic.

The Wafer distance provides a competitive race that can be ridden hard from start to finish while still remaining accessible.

While the incredible women racing at the front of the Waffle distance receive well deserved attention, there are many strong athletes competing at other distances whose stories are rarely told.

By choosing to race the Wafer as an Elite team, we are helping build a competitive field, bringing media attention to more athletes, race programs, and sponsors, and telling stories that more women can identify with and be motivated by.

When women have a positive race experience, they come back. And they bring their friends.

That is how the sport grows.

Our First Elite Team Race

BWR Arizona marked the first race for our new DTE Elite Squad.

We went into the weekend with no pressure around results. Our number one goal was to be together as a team, support each other through the life challenges every rider is navigating, and race our bikes.

For fun.
For the experience.
For the bigger goals ahead this season.

Each rider surprised themselves.

I believe one of the most important elements in racing is feeling supported. When athletes are not weighed down by performance pressure, they can show up fully, push their limits, and grow.

As a team owner and mentor, my role is to meet each rider where they are and focus on long-term development rather than a single race result.

Before the race, I suggested that, if possible, riders pair up and support each other on course.

And that is exactly what happened.

Lauren Zimmer and I ended up riding together for most of the race. Having pre-ridden sections of the course, I spent much of the day setting the pace and navigating lines through the technical terrain.

As the hours passed and the desert heat intensified, my body began to struggle. But having Lauren on my wheel kept me focused, and together we pushed all the way to the finish.

Team Results

For our first race together as a team, the results were a strong start.

Starla Teddergreen – 2nd
Lauren Zimmer – 4th
Lindsey Lavender – 5th
Rachel Frey – 6th
Shelley – 7th

That placed Distance To Empty riders throughout the front of the Wafer elite field.

Joelle had an unfortunate run-in with a moto that ignored closed-course signage. A little banged up from hitting the ground to avoid contact with the moto, she made the smart decision to step out of the race, but immediately shifted into support mode, cheering riders in at the finish.

That moment captured exactly what this team is about.

Supporting each other. No matter what.

Racing the Arizona Desert

The BWR Arizona course delivered everything desert racing should.

Dry dust.
Deep sand.
Loose over hardpack corners.

A twisting rollercoaster through McDowell Mountain Park.

The course wound through motocross trails, rocky sections, and technical singletrack under relentless dry heat. It demanded constant focus and rewarded riders who stayed composed and efficient.

It was the kind of terrain where equipment truly matters.

The Setup

For BWR Arizona we raced the Lauf Seigla, equipped with their suspension fork, paired with Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Race wheels.

The combination delivered exactly what the terrain demanded, fast acceleration across hardpack, stability through loose corners, and confidence when the course turned rocky and technical.

For tires, we placed a last-minute order through Performance Bicycle to secure Schwalbe G-One R Pro 50mm tubeless tires, paired with Finishline Fiberlink sealant. The setup proved ideal for the sand, chunk, and high-speed hardpack sections that define racing in the Arizona desert.

But racing at a high level is never just about one piece of equipment. The DTE Elite Squad is supported by an incredible group of partners who make it possible for us to show up prepared and focused on the race ahead.

Bike — @laufcycles
Wheels — @hunt.beyond @hunt.mountain
Clothing — @panachecycle
Socks — @qeja_socks
Helmets — @abus_cycling
Glasses — @julbo_eyewear @julboeyewearna
Technology — @garmincycling @garminfitness
Nutrition — @flowformulas
Medical ID — @kopilot.id.official
Bike Maintenance — @finishlineusa
All Things Bike — @performancebike
Pre/Post Ride Footwear — @thebertshoe

Each of these partners plays an important role in helping Distance To Empty continue building opportunities for women in cycling.

A Meaningful Connection

Another powerful aspect of the weekend was BWR’s partnership with Bike MS.

As an athlete competing with multiple sclerosis, an invisible disease that many people do not fully understand, that connection meant a great deal to me personally.

Racing in and recovering from extreme heat presents unique challenges for athletes with MS. Being introduced to that community and feeling seen and supported in that space was incredibly meaningful.

The DTE Elite Squad

The 2026 season marks the launch of the Distance To Empty Elite Squad, a group of women who bring different strengths, experiences, and stories to the sport.

Our goal is not only to race at a high level, but to lead by example, support one another, and create a welcoming space for more women to step up to the start line.

Starla Teddergreen
Founder of Distance To Empty, former UCI road professional, and gravel and mountain bike racer dedicated to expanding opportunities for women in cycling.

Lauren Zimmer
A strong and technical racer whose calm presence and powerful engine make her a formidable teammate in endurance events.

Lindsey Lavender
A determined competitor ready to grow and push her limits in gravel racing, and always eager to take on a ten hour climb.

Rachel Frey
A resilient rider whose steady strength and joyful positivity bring both performance and perspective to the team.

Shelley Peachell
Good luck staying on this rider’s wheel on fast technical descents. Shelley embodies the spirit of Distance To Empty, showing up with determination, heart, and a commitment to growth.

Joelle Debban
A racer who brings sparkle to the team, always ready to spend all day on the bike and a creative force capturing the experience of racing.

Together, this group represents what Distance To Empty is all about.

“Lead by example. Support each other. Grow together.”

Looking Ahead

The BWR Women Only Start is only the beginning.

Through Distance To Empty we are working to encourage more women to show up, line up, and experience the challenge and joy of racing.

When women are given the opportunity to race women, something powerful happens.

Confidence grows.
Community grows.
Participation grows.

And we are just getting started.

Next stop:

Sea Otter Classic.