If this column has given you the cycling bug this semester, you probably already know about the upcoming cycling geek-out event hitting Sacramento this weekend.

May 10, the AMGEN Tour of California will be rolling through our streets, bringing professional riders, food and good times. The tour is a Tour de France type of race broken up into different stages along California’s highways, byways and coastlines.

The third stage, the women’s tour, will be held on Sunday. Like in many sports, women are held at a lower tier in the cycling world. They don’t get paid as much as men do in races, United Cycling International does not have a minimum wage that a woman cyclist must be paid and rarely can women’s cycling be found on television.

There is absolutely no reason women cyclists should not get the same attention and respect as male cyclists do, and there is no reason why they shouldn’t be allowed to race side by side either.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled to go see hundreds of women cyclists race during the tour, but what would really be exciting is to see women cyclists pass up the men, and prove the two sexes can compete on an equal playing field.

In fact, there is a term that has popped up when a woman passes a man. It’s called “chicking,” and although there is arguably sexist undertones in the term, it has taken storm. From running to swimming to cycling, “chicking” during a race shows just how dominate the female athlete can be.

The idea that women and men cannot compete on an equal playing field falls apart, one sexist reason at a time, and pushes the notion that women are more than capable of racing with the men.

So go out, enjoy the race and support the women as they get ready to roll. Someday, hopefully, we will all be cheering for a co-ed race.

Respect the chicks, be seen and ride on.