Hi Rob, there is no shortage of good female cyclists. How come we had to wait so long for a Tour de France for women?
“It was difficult. It all started in 1984. The revenue from the men’s advertising caravan started to decline, so the management looked for a new market. But after a few years, in 1989, they gave up. They did not consider a Tour de France for women to be financially profitable.
“Since then, other organizations have tried to rebuild it. But eventually the plug was finally pulled in 2009. The number of stages decreased, the race got less and less prestige.
‘In 2013, Marianne Vos, together with a few other riders, made a plea for a new Tour. That is how La Course was born, a one or two day race during the Tour de France for men. It was kind of a sideshow, but at least it was something.’
Now there is yet another multi-day competition. Is it a fully-fledged female version of the Tour?
‘At least it’s no longer a sop like La Course. This year there will be eight stages instead of one or two, but many in the peloton think it should take a little longer. The Italian Giro Donne, for example, lasts ten days, which the peloton can handle just fine.’
“There’s a good chance this is the start of a longer tradition. Teams like Jumbo-Visma, Movistar and Trek-Segafredo have really invested in establishing a female branch. Wages have improved. Women’s races are already being organized for classics such as the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix. An adult Tour fits into this pattern.’
What will these eight days look like?
‘There is something for everyone. After the flat stage in Paris we slowly head to the northeast of France. There are still some sprint stages, stages with short steep climbs and this weekend there will be two more real mountain stages. There’s even a gravel lane ride where they’re going to drive 13 kilometers of unpaved, that’s for the adventurers, the daredevils who dare to go over it.
‘But the center of gravity of the race is in the last two days. In principle, the winner of the Tour is determined there. In the Vosges, the riders will ride over the Grand Ballon, a serious climb. And on the last day they even visit the famous La Planche des Belles Filles where they, like the men, are faced with a 24 percent gradient on the last part.’
And what about the chances for the Dutch riders?
‘Annemiek van Vleuten is without a doubt the biggest contender to finish in yellow. She is in her penultimate year and has already won just about everything. Now this round crosses her path and she will do everything she can to take this victory too. She is in top form: last month she won the Giro Donne. She is optimally prepared.
‘An important competitor is also a Dutch one: Demi Vollering. She rides in a very strong team and has just skipped the Giro Donne to focus entirely on the Tour. She herself keeps expectations low, but she is an excellent rider and earlier this year won a difficult race in the Basque Country.
‘We must of course not forget Marianne Vos. She is the advocate of this Tour after all. She’s been around for a long time, has a huge record, but she’s still good. She won’t be competing for the standings, but I see her best winning stages. The same goes for Lorena Wiebes, team DSM’s sprint cannon. It’s horribly fast.’
You will be following the Tour closely these days, which stage should everyone watch?
“The last day at La Planche des Belles Filles can be fantastic if the Tour hasn’t been decided by then. But I’m actually also looking forward to today’s stage, in Paris. Who will be the first woman in yellow on the Champs-Élysées?
“In addition, there we see the two rounds, the men’s and the women’s, converging. The women finish when the men pretty much enter Paris. In any case, that will be a special moment for cycling.’