The first edition of the women’s Tour de France, whose route was presented this Thursday, will start on the day of the men’s arrival in Paris and has been designed by the organizers with the intention of lasting over time.
The runners will complete in eight stages just over 1,000 kilometers between the Eiffel Tower, which will mark the start of the edition, and La Planche des Belles Filles, the already mythical peak of the Vosges that will mark the final winner.
On the way there are four flat stages, including an original journey through unpaved roads between the vineyards of Champagne, two rugged and two mountain, with a high finish.
In five of the eight stages the peloton will make a circuit in the final section, to attract more public attention.
The race will start shortly before the arrival of the Men’s Tour to the Champs-Elysées and will share the finish line with them, although at an earlier hour.
“The idea is to take advantage of the media pull of the men’s Tour to attract media attention to the female”, indicated the director of cycling of the organization, Christian Prudhomme.
Directed by former French Champion Marion Rousse, A popular face for having been a commentator for the Men’s Tour on French television for years, the race hopes to settle into the media landscape.
“The idea is to find the economic balance so that, one day, we can celebrate the centenary of this test,” says Prudhomme, satisfied with the number of sponsors that the first edition has attracted and expectant about the media attention that the event will attract.
In an eight-day test, somewhat shorter than the Women’s Giro, the Tour had to bet on a single massif and, due to its proximity to Paris, they chose the Vosges, who will live the final apotheosis.
On the way east, they will start with a flat and nervous tour through the streets of Paris, between the Eiffel Tower and the Champs-Elysées, they will continue with 135 flat kilometers between Meaux and Provins.
The first mountainous difficulties will arrive in the third stage, the first rough profile in the middle of Champagne, between Reims and Épernay, before tackling the unpaved sections between Troyes and Bar-sur-Aube.
There will be four that total almost 13 kilometers in the last 60 of the 126 stage.
Flat but long the fifth stage, 175 kilometers, 15 more than authorized for a women’s race, so they have had to request a special permit from the International Cycling Union (UCI).
The rugged terrain will return on the sixth day, ending in Rosheim and several heights in the course, prelude to the high mountains, which will arrive with a classic, andhe ascent to the Grand Ballon de Alsace, 13.5 kilometers at a 6.7% slope, although the finish line will be downhill eight kilometers from the top. Before they will have had to overcome the Petit Ballon (9.3 kilometers at 8.1%) and Platzerwasel (13.5 kilometers at 6.7%).
In total, more than 3,000 meters of unevenness as an aperitif of the Queen stage, ending at La Planche des Belles Filles, 7 kilometers at 8.7% average slope, after having ascended the Ballon de Alsacia, the first port that the Tour climbed in its history.
Stages of the Women’s Tour de France 2022
Stage 1. 24/07 Paris – Paris (82 kilometers)
Stage 2. 25/07 Meaux – Provins (135 kilometers)
Stage 3. 26/07 Reims – Épernay (133 kilometers)
Stage 4. 27/07 Troyes – Bar-sur-Aube (126 kilometers)
Stage 5. 28/07 Bar-le-Duc РSaint-Di̩-des-Vosges (175 kilometers)
Stage 6. 29/07 Saint-Di̩-des-Vosges РRosheim (128 kilometers)
Stage 7. 07/30 S̩lestat РLe Markstein (127 kilometers)
Stage 8. 07/31 Lure – La Planche des Belles Filles (123 kilometers)