D.fter more than a century of men’s Tour de France (the first edition of the most important cycling race in the world was organized in 1903), women cyclists also have their Tour de Frances Femmes. A female counterpart had actually already been organized in 1955, but the following year it did not follow up.
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At other times, attempts were made to replicate and bring women’s sport closer to the standards of men’s, without much success. If, to say, in recent years, the men’s Tour de France boasted 21 stages for three weeks of racing, The women’s “La Course” was a simple one day race.
From the Eiffel Tower to the Super Planche des Belles Filles
The Tour de France Femmes therefore started on Sunday morning with a stage from the Eiffel Tower to the Champs-Élysées, right on the day the men’s Tour ended. Which, of course, has eaten up all the pages of sports newspapers relegating the Tour de France Femmes to a short or little more. But for the fans the idea of a relay pass between men and women may be a good idea.
The adventure will end on July 31 with the uphill arrival on the Super Planche des Belles Filles. A choice, that of this final stage, which could sound like a compliment. In fact, the name was attributed to the Vosges peak due to a
legend according to which, during the Thirty Years War, girls from the nearby village committed suicide to escape the Swedish mercenaries by throwing themselves into the lake below, today called Étang des Belles Filles (pond of beautiful girls). Women’s cycling, the race towards equality
To organize the race is
Amaury Sport Organization (ASO)the company that organizes the men’s Tour (and also La Course, women’s, one day) and for this alone the Tour de France Femmes is significant and promises to
to help grow the public but also the business of women’s cycling: the main sponsors are in fact the same as for the men’s race.
Lorena Wiebes on the podium of the first stage of the Tour de France Femmes with her baby (Photo by Jeff PACHOUD / AFP) (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP via Getty Images)[/caption]
Race director,
Marion Rousse, former cyclist and TV commentator. The women’s Tour will be 1,033 kilometers long with 144 riders at the start divided into 24 teams. In just eight stages (but they are better than one), there will be no big Alpine climbs: the race will in fact remain in the north-east of France. But it is a start.
The Italians at the Tour de Frances Femmes
Bib number one will be worn by the world champion,
the blue Elisa Balsamo, from Trek-Segafredo, who finished fourth in the first stage, won by the Dutch Lorena Wiebes, 23 years old. Another Italian to keep an eye on,
Elisa Longo Borghini, which after the victory of Paris-Roubaix, aims for the general classification. But already in the first stage the Modenese made themselves noticed
Rachele Barbieri and Tuscany
Vittoria Guazzini. Also in the race Marta Cavalli, Marta Bastianelli and the girls of Valcar-Travel & Service.
Where to follow the Tour de France Femmes
Eurosport has the exclusive image of the Tour de France Femmes 2022 with Eurosport 1 (channel 210 Sky), the reference channel for live television. The live stream will be available on both the Discovery + platform and the Global Cycling Network thanks to GCN +. Today’s stage, Meaux-Provins, is flat, therefore a great opportunity for sprinters, and will finish around 4.15pm. The live broadcast starts at 2.00pm.
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