Niamh Fisher-Black: ‘It's absurd to say wider handlebars are safer’ – Domestique Hotseat Podcast

At just 24, the New Zealander has already lived the full arc of a rider’s education. From her early jump to SD Worx to her new role as team leader at Lidl–Trek, Fisher-Black is still searching for that first win at the highest level, but the consistency tells its own story. “There’s always hunger and frustration when you don’t get that top step,” she said. “But I’m letting it feed the upward trajectory.”

We spoke about her silver medal at the World Championships, her critique of the UCI’s handlebar-width rule (“It’s absurd to say it makes racing safer”), and the reality of racing without radios. She also reflected on the importance of a true U23 category, something she feels women’s cycling still misses. “Cycling is not always about the strongest rider,” she said. “It is about understanding how to win, being bold enough to make a move, or patient enough to wait for the right moment.”

Fisher-Black also opened up about her time at SD Worx, the media scrutiny around Demi Vollering, and what it means to carry the weight of leadership. “It is a lot harder than you think,” she said. “You carry the team, you have to make them believe, and that takes confidence. But every race this year felt better than the last.”

Listen to the full conversation for a thoughtful and quietly determined insight into one of cycling’s young leaders, a rider learning not just how to race but how to win.

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