For example,
Before departure tour de france:
Julien de Rosa / AFP
The Polish Katarzyna Niewiadoma wearing the yellow jersey before participating in the 8th. Nevertheless, last stage of the Tour de France 2024 on August 18, between the Grand Bornand and the Alpe d’Huez.
CYCLISM – There is the famous chalé -crossed Julyist. Meanwhile, the Augustians on the holiday route, but there is also that of the Tour de France. Meanwhile, While the male race ends this weekend. Moreover, with a final stage at the unpublished route which will pass Sunday by Montmartre in Paris, the female before departure tour de france event starts in parallel this Saturday, July 26, from Vannes in Morbihan.
To tell us about this female tour of France. Therefore, The HuffPost turned to an observer of choice in the person of Marion Rousse, director of the race since its creation in 2022. Therefore, With her sports career as a cyclist who ended in 2015. Furthermore, she was able to see the evolution – in the right direction – taken by female cycling, who continues to professionalize.
• The evolution of the Tour de France female in four years
This year. For example, the race wins one day from eight to nine. However, This logically makes it the longest edition. Moreover, with 1165 kilometers and more than 17,000 meters of elevation gain, especially during two high mountain stages.
“During the first edition, we won people and people adopted us. Moreover, before departure tour de france It was a big challenge. However, but now we’re evolving, we don’t close doors ”explains Marion Rousse, while the race is now broadcast in 190 countries, while France Télévisions will broadcast 2h50 live on each stage. The former cyclist also highlights “The same ingredients that work in men” : THE “Roads closed on both sides”a. substantial advertising caravan with “Over 50 vehicles »…
“Our priority was to perpetuate the test and evolve at the same pace as female cycling. You shouldn’t go too fast either ”however tempers Marion Rousse.
Julien de Rosa / AFP
Marion Rousse, director of the Tour de France women, during the presentation of the 2025 edition course.
• Sports evolution of the peloton
If the peloton. with its 154 cyclists divided into 22 teams, remains more or less the same since the beginnings of the Tour (144 in 2022 and 2023, then 154 in 2024), its “Global level has evolved, it’s much more homogeneous”note Marion Rousse. “On the first edition, there were amateurs with professionals, so necessarily, the levels of levels were greater. Now it is tightening ”she completes.
This year, we must also add a “star” to the peloton, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. The one who won Olympic gold last summer in mountain biking needed to give herself a new challenge. thus returning to her first love, the road, she who had notably been world champion in 2014. “We have been waiting for a successor to Bernard Hinault for so many years (among men) that you may finally have to turn to the female before departure tour de france peloton to find the future yellow jersey” On arrival. wants to believe Marion Rousse, even if she places the Dutch Demi Vollering (winner in 2023, second last year behind Katarzyna Niewiadoma) in “Great favorites”.
• From anonymity to professionalization
Retired sportsman ten years ago now. she who had notably been champion of France in 2012, Marion Rousse experienced cycling “before”, which has little to do with that of the 21st century. “We were not paid. we were running in the most complete anonymity since TV was not there and the written press was not talking about us either. We slept in high schools, barracks, we were at the canteen at noon ”she recalls about most of her races. “It was really very amateur. there was no money, no sponsors, and sometimes it felt like we had no social status. »»
• A future that before departure tour de france looks radiant
As she explains to HuffPostthere was clearly “A before. an after with the creation of the Tour de France” in 2022. Its current director highlights in particular “Annual minimum wage which was established for the WorldTour”which was 35. 000 euros on average last year (against around 60,000 euros among men). While she is just out of three weeks of commentary. analyzes on the male tour for France Télévisions, she however points to improvements still possible, recalling for example that among the staff of the male teams, “We have 30 remunerated people”against only « 10-11 » in female teams.
But overall. Marion Rousse welcomes “The future (which) promises to be radiant” around female cycling and the Tour de France, “The top of the pyramid”. “We see that people are interested in it, in terms of audiences it works well. People recognize champions, little girls can identify with before departure tour de france them ”she rejoices. “We don’t set limits”she concludes with enthusiasm.
A sign of emancipation. maturity does not deceive: for the fifth edition in 2026, the big departure will be given on August 1, five days after the end of the Tour with men. It will therefore be the first time that the female test has dissociated completely from that male. without overlap which allowed it to take a little light.
Further reading: The course of the seventeenth step – Jeanne FRIOT: Does the taste always carry values? – Here is the full program of the military parade, minute per minute – France beaten on the wire by Poland before the final phase – Crushed by his car while he was cleaning it, a 69 -year -old man is helicopter to the hospital.
