The route for the third edition of the women’s Tour de France, which will leave the Netherlands on August 12, was revealed on Wednesday.
The organizers of the Tour de France women, which will take place from August 12 to 18, 2024, unveiled the route for the third edition, Wednesday October 25. It gives pride of place to the Netherlands of Demi Vollering – big winner of the Tour in 2023 -, which hosts the first three stages, two of which will be contested on the same day. The difficulty will increase, with flat terrain to start, hilly stages in the middle of the week, and two final alpine stages. After the Tourmalet last year, the women’s peloton will tackle another cycling monument: Alpe d’Huez, for the finish of the 2024 edition.
The beautiful part in the Netherlands
Sounds like the Tour de France 2010. The peloton will set off from the city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, “the homeland of the little queen and the great ladies of cycling”, according to the words chosen by Marion Rousse, race director. Four of the eight stages of this 2024 edition will start from a Dutch city, twice from Rotterdam (1st and 2nd stages), once from Dordrecht (3rd stage), then from Valkenburg (4th stage).
The route of the Tour de France Femmes 2024.
. – (ASO)
The first stage, 124 kilometers long and whose finish will be judged in The Hague, will be flat on roads exposed to the wind “between tulip fields and urban areas”. The next day, two stages will take place on the same day, with first 67 kilometers still subject to the vagaries of the wind and, a priori, a second consecutive massive sprint, in the streets of Rotterdam. Once dismounted, the competitors will quickly get back on their mounts for a time trial. “short and intense” (6.3 km) with a “slight relief” which should create the first small gaps between favorites.
A mini Liège-Bastogne-Liège on the program
The serious things will begin during the 4th stage, between Valkenburg and Liège, in Belgium (122 km). It will combine the difficulties of the Amstel Gold Race (Geulhemmerberg and Bemelerberg twice, then the Cauberg) and Liège-Bastogne-Liège (including Redoute and Roche-aux-Faucons). A great day of Ardennes classic in the middle of August which has a good chance of electrifying the peloton. The race organization plans a “very trying stage”.
A victory in Liège will inevitably be coveted by the favorites, especially since the following two stages should not create huge differences between them. The 5th stage between Bastogne and Amnéville (150 km) should suit the punchers, while the 6th, between Remiremont and Morteau (160 km), in the Jura, will offer suitable terrain for a breakaway which would not threaten the general classification.
Alpe d’Huez and Grand Bornand in conclusion
After three flat stages, then three other hilly ones, the last two days will decide the outcome of the race. Direction the Alps, a first for the women’s Tour de France. First, the peloton will explain itself between Champagnole and Le Grand-Bornand, on the longest stage of the week: 167 kilometers, from Jura to Haute-Savoie. Five climbs are scheduled with, as justice of the peace, the Montée du Chinaillon (7 km at 5.1%), which presents a rather rolling profile.
The route of the 8th and final stage of the Tour de France Femmes 2024.
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The difficulty will increase again the next day for the 8th and final stage. The legendary ascent of Alpe d’Huez (13.8 km at 8.1%) and its famous 21 bends will give the name of the winner of the 2024 edition. To hope to raise your arms on this queen stage, it will have to have survived the very long Col du Glandon (19.7 km at 7.2%, just after halfway). A copious menu which will require you to have managed your efforts well during the first six days of racing.
Download the women’s Tour de France route (pdf)