How three friends turned after-work rides into a female cycling community: Maria tells us the story of WattWomen Pinzgau – from community vibes and coffee stops to why riding together simply makes cycling even more fun.
The Pinzgau region is known for its impressive mountains, lush valleys and challenging alpine passes. But if you think the roads between Zell am See and the surrounding peaks are only home to determined mountain specialists, you clearly haven’t met WattWomen Pinzgau yet.
It all started in spring 2024. After finishing their studies, Maria, Lou and Jenny moved back home. So, what do three cycling-loving friends do in the Pinzgau? Simple: they arrange a ride. What starts as a small group quickly takes on a life of its own. Word spreads among their friends, more and more women join in – and with almost every ride, new faces roll along.
The real spark came in spring 2025, when the WattWomen organised their first training camp. It was there that they experienced just how much you can achieve together. Some of the women had never ridden more than 100 kilometres before. But with mutual motivation and support, they pushed their personal limits and set new records. The group returned from Mallorca full of energy – and not just thanks to the pasta salad that kept them fuelled.
“Riding together as a community and having that support from each other gave us such an incredible boost,” says Maria.
The group continued to grow, and the vibes were simply right. By autumn 2025, an idea had started to take shape, and they made a decision: it was time to make it official. In November 2025, WattWomen Pinzgau was officially founded as a club.
“We realised how much riding together gives us. And at some point, we thought: if it works this well within our group of friends, there must be plenty of other women in the Pinzgau who would love to be part of it, too.”
No Limits. Just the desire to ride.
A WattWoman doesn’t need to ride a certain number of kilometres, hit a specific wattage or win a race. What matters is the love of cycling, motivation and the joy of being out there together.
At the heart of the WattWomen activities is their weekly After Work Ride – and non-members are always welcome to join. The routes are announced in advance, and depending on the distance, the group heads out through the Pinzgau in one or several riding groups.
The rule is simple: no one gets left behind. The group waits for each other, communicates along the way and keeps an eye on how everyone is doing. For many women, it’s exactly this atmosphere that makes all the difference. Beyond pace and training kilometres, there is space for conversations about topics that matter to women in cycling – including the female cycle and how it can affect performance.
“The more confident you feel on your bike, the more confident you become in yourself,” says Maria. And you can feel exactly that within the WattWomen community: with every ride together, the women gain not only confidence on the bike, but also confidence in themselves.
Home on two wheels
The Pinzgau is more than just home to the WattWomen – it’s the perfect backdrop for their rides together. The Maria Alm loop offers spectacular mountain views and stunning vistas of the Steinernes Meer. The Filzensattel route is perfect for anyone who loves collecting elevation. And if you’re looking for long evenings in the sun, head towards the Oberpinzgau.
But for the WattWomen, a great ride is about more than just the route. Sometimes it’s a coffee stop at Bella Bean Coffee in Zell am See. Sometimes it’s wrapping up a community ride together on the Bründl rooftop terrace. And sometimes it’s simply that moment when all the bikes are lined up next to each other and you realise: this is exactly why we came out today.
A Team you can see
You can feel that the WattWomen belong together – and you can see it on the road, too. Since last year, the women have been riding in their CUORE kits. First in mint, now also in lilac. Their designs are modern and clean, yet eye-catching enough to spot the group from a distance.
But in the end, it’s not the colour of the kit that defines the WattWomen. It’s waiting for each other on the climb. The support when the legs start to feel heavy. The laughter at the coffee stop. And that feeling of sharing an experience that might have been completely different on your own.
This summer, 21 women are already signed up for the next training camp in South Tyrol – almost twice as many as the first time. That alone says a lot.
And what about you? Maybe you have a road bike, but no group to ride with yet. Or maybe you simply haven’t found anyone to head out with.
Then do it like the WattWomen: just start. Look for a female cycling community in your area. Find a community ride and join in. You don’t have to be the fastest. You don’t have to ride 100 kilometres. And you don’t have to know how to do everything.
Because that’s exactly how new friendships, new communities – and maybe even the next WattWomen story – begin.
