Published on : 18/06/2021 – 16:45
The female version of the Tour de France will see the light of day and will begin on July 24, 2022, the very day that the edition of its male counterpart will stop. The female cyclists will compete in an eight-stage event starting on the Champs-Élysées, organizer ASO said on Thursday.
The project had been in preparation for a long time. Without the Covid-19 pandemic and its consequences on the calendar of the world of sport, it would have seen the light of day this year. It will finally materialize in a year. Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) announced, Thursday, June 17, that the Tour de Frances Femmes, women’s version of the Grande Boucle, will start on July 24, 2022.
This date is not trivial. That day, the men’s Tour de France will end on the Champs-Élysées. His little sister will then take over, with the most beautiful avenue in the world as the finish for the first stage. The full name of this new event is “Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift”, in reference to the Zwift fitness platform, partner of the Women’s Tour for the next four years.
“We seek to contribute to the growth and development of women’s cycling”
“Working on the construction of such an event means offering women’s cycling an event capable of highlighting the sporting qualities of exceptional champions”, Christian Prud’homme, director of the Tour, told the daily L ‘ Team.
The route of the eight stages will be unveiled on October 14, 2021, at the Palais des Congrès in Paris. The yellow jersey, similar to that of the Men’s Tour, will be sponsored by LCL. E. Leclerc will sponsor the one with polka dots, which rewards the best climber. The ranking of the best youngster will be sponsored by Liv Cycling. Daily live broadcasting will be provided by France Télévisions in France and by other large generalist channels in Europe, according to an agreement with the European Broadcasting Union.
“We are looking to strengthen our investment in women’s cycling and make a real contribution to the growth and development of the sport,” said Eric Min. The CEO of Zwift also congratulated himself on the success of the virtual Tour de France, organized by his platform last summer.
The Tour de France Women will be included in the calendar of the International Cycling Union (UCI), in the World Tour category. The Women’s Tour de France has existed in different forms in the past, before disappearing at the end of 2000. It is not the only cycling event to have a female equivalent in France. ASO had already announced the creation of Paris-Roubaix for women in 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic had forced to cancel the men’s and women’s editions. They must, except in the wrong time, be held in early October 2021.
With AFP
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