Mélanie Katcher’s Athletic Journey
Originally from Québec, Mélanie has always been an athlete. She excelled in volleyball and flag football in high school and college, and even dabbled in CrossFit while living in Whistler, BC. But it wasn’t until the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic that she discovered her true love for cycling. What began as a way to pass the time soon turned into a full-blown obsession. With nearly 75,000 kilometers in the saddle since her first ride, it's safe to say she’s hooked.
Barely a year after she began cycling, Mélanie placed 1st at the 2022 Tour de Concord (cat 4), followed by two 2nd place finishes at the Tour de Bloom (cat 3) and Whistler Granfondo (Forte). Cycling became her passion, one she wanted to share with more women who are often underrepresented in the sport, leading to her becoming a founding member of a team dedicated to empowering women in cycling.
Mélanie Katcher at the Gastown Grand Prix – Photo by Connor Davies
The Birth of Ruckus Racing
Mélanie’s personal journey led her to find her broader purpose when she noticed how underrepresented women are in cycling, particularly in competitive races. In 2023, after a year of racing with an incredible group of women she’d met through Velosophy’s "QOM Classes," Mélanie helped establish Ruckus Racing—an all-female cycling team with a mission to create space and opportunities for female athletes.
Ruckus Racing isn’t just about competition though, it’s also about community. Their aim is to support women at all levels of their cycling journey, whether they’re racing cat 1, cat 5, or simply riding for fun. As Mélanie puts it, Ruckus Racing is all about “having fun, taken seriously”, which perfectly captures their approach to both racing and building a thriving community.
Ruckus Racing Team – Photo by Mélanie Katcher
Challenges and Triumphs: Building a Movement
Like any new venture, forming Ruckus Racing came with its challenges. Keeping the team’s vision whole was important, however finding partners who truly understood the team’s vision of inclusivity and empowerment was difficult. Thankfully, they eventually found partners like Samsara, who, in addition to designing what Mélanie calls “the coolest race kits ever,” also embraced the team’s vision and provided a platform to amplify it in the cycling community.
What began as a small team quickly grew into something bigger. Today, the Ruckus Racing team consists of 25 racers, competing across road, gravel, cyclocross, track, and mountain biking. Their impact on the local racing scene can be seen at race lineups. In 2022, women’s starts were often combined with men due to low attendance, but by 2023, there were enough women on the start line to warrant dedicated women-only starts. While Mélanie recognizes that it’s been a community effort, Ruckus Racing has played a big role in this shift through being unapologetic in showing up, taking up space, and owning it.
Mélanie Katcher at the Tour De Bloom – Photo by Blake Dahlin
Creating Community and Inclusivity
Ruckus Racing isn’t just about racing; it’s about creating a space where women in cycling feel supported, can be themselves, have fun, and still be taken seriously. Mélanie and her team are dedicated to mentoring new riders and encouraging them to take on races that might have once seemed intimidating. They want to help women feel confident and empowered—whether they’re aiming for the podium or simply enjoying the ride.
The team’s Speakers Series events, which cover everything from training tips to nutrition and bikepacking, have become a valuable resource for cyclists seeking to grow in the sport and build their confidence. Ruckus Racing continues their mission of education and support through monthly "Crit Train Rides," where the Ruckus team commutes with potential racers to local crit races. These rides offer a space to receive guidance, answer questions, and make the world of competitive cycling feel more approachable. It’s all about breaking down barriers and making the sport more accessible to women at all levels.
In addition to educational events, Ruckus Racing hosts community rides, like their popular Ruckus and Friends series, which offers “spicy” drop-in rides that offer a chance for women to experience racing elements, discover what they enjoy about racing, and an opportunity to find mentorship within the community. They’ve even organized scavenger hunts on bikes, showing that cycling doesn’t have to be all about competition—it’s also about building connections and having fun.
Ruckus Racing Team – Photo by Mélanie Katcher
Fueling Performance with Blonyx
Recently, Mélanie joined the Blonyx Athlete Team, incorporating Blonyx sports nutrition products like HMB+ Creatine, Beta Alanine, and Egg White Protein Isolate into her training routine as she gears up for the 2025 competitive season. While supplementation is new to her, she’s already noticed a significant improvement in her strength, power output, and recovery. The addition of Blonyx to her training is helping her return to her Olympic weightlifting routine, as she rebuilds her strength in the off-season.
Through this partnership, Mélanie hopes to demystify the role of sports nutrition in endurance sports, especially for women, and show that supplements positively contribute to peak performance.
Mélanie Katcher at the Gastown Grand Prix – Photo by Connor Davies
The Future of Ruckus Racing
Ruckus Racing has come a long way in a short time, but Mélanie and her teammates are just getting started. The team has grown, not just in numbers but in influence, with a focus on inclusivity and performance that’s driving real change in the cycling world. Their goal remains unchanged: to keep racing, keep growing, and keep empowering women to take up space in the sport they love.
Whether through competitive racing or creating spaces for women to connect and grow, the Ruckus Racing team is here to stay and they’re inviting more women to join them—whether it’s on the racecourse or just going out for a ride. Through their Ruckus and Friends Strava community, Mélanie and her team are creating opportunities for women to connect, ride together, and show up to races. As Mélanie says, “Growing the women’s cycling scene is no easy feat and can be a wild ride—but showing up is the only way. I hope Ruckus Racing continues to be that nudge that helps more women to feel seen, heard, and represented, so they can simply go for what they want.”
You can follow Ruckus Racing on Instagram @ruckusrcng and join the Ruckus and Friends community on Strava to stay up to date on their journey and upcoming events. You can also connect with Mélanie directly on Strava.
That’s all for this week! If you enjoyed reading Mélanie Katcher’s story, head over to the Blonyx Blog for more stories of athletic ambition.
– Train hard!