Trailblazer of the Year

As the first Black woman to complete the 2023 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and part of the WorldTour roster, Teniel Campbell is changing the cycling game. That’s exactly why she’s earned Strava’s Trailblazer of the Year Award.

Teniel Campbell is not just changing the cycling game; she's breaking down barriers for others. That’s why Strava crowned her Trailblazer of the Year. 

This year marked 26-year-old Teniel's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift debut, and she didn't just join the race; she became the first Black woman to complete the iconic tour. “It’s pretty special for me, because back home in Trinidad and Tobago and even globally, this is the one race that everyone knows about,” she says. “I feel like I’ve proved to everyone that if you believe in something, if you want to achieve something, if you do the work, it will happen.”

But Teniel isn't new to making history. She's the first cyclist from Trinidad and Tobago to complete the 2023 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, she was the first woman to represent her country in cycling at the 2021 Olympics, and she was the first Black WorldTour rider.

In Teniel's eyes, it's not just about cycling. “Let this be a symbol of hope, especially to the smaller cycling nations and the athletes who are often overlooked. You have what it takes to achieve once you believe because that spark starts with you,” she says.

Cycling hasn't always made space for women, especially Black women or those from smaller nations. For years, those women who wanted to forge a career in the pro cycling world had to seek – if they could –  their own path. Teniel's working to change that by pushing herself forward and creating opportunities for others.

When Teniel started sports as a child, cycling wasn't part of the initial plan. But fate had different ideas, and now, with Jayco–AlUla, she's part of the team. On top of facing gender and racial barriers to entry, Teniel confronted an array of injuries in 2022. They had her relearning the basics, from lifting a leg to walking. Yet, she powered through and rubbed shoulders with the pros at this year's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. 

In Teniel's words: “Keep your eyes on the prize and don't look back.” 

Teniel's not just about winning races; she celebrates others' victories too. Training and racing in Europe might be a far cry from her roots, but she never forgets the sacrifices her fellow riders make to hit that race line.