Very little work has been published on the role of foot size in cycling but it certainly has an effect on rider position. Similarly, cra0nk length may need to be adjusted with smaller women , with petite feet, possibly benefiting from 165mm, as opposed to the standard 170cm, cranks. Thus the rider with larger feet has a greater mechanical advantage over the small footer rider. Due to this mechanical disadvantage the fore and aft positioning of the saddle is even more critical. Similarly, a smooth pedalling action with minimum resistance applied to the up-pedal stroke is required.
Women tend to be physically smaller than men.
In the hills percentage body fat and absolute body weight are more important so most women are again handicapped. Like their male counterparts small, lightly built women are more suited to hilly courses than taller, heavier riders who tend to excel at events on level ground. Body fat distribution and percentage. The key physiological differences between men and women relates to the fact that the male hormone testosterone is a much more potent anabolic agent than female oestrogen thus men tend to have larger, stronger muscles and less subcutaneous fat than women. This additional body fat is a consequence of being female and a difference that needs to be accepted by women athletes in general.