It’s a great historic start for this new female version of the Tour de France. The 24 formations, made up of six riders each, will set off from the Eiffel Tower on Sunday July 24 to give their first pedal strokes in this Grande Boucle. Before arriving at the Champs-Elysées, there will be 81.7 kilometers to cover before a final, probably in the sprint, on the most beautiful avenue in the world.
What is the stage profile?
The fictitious start of this Tour de France women will be given at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. A symbol and a parade passing in front of the Palais de Tokyo, the Place de l’Alma and the Grand Palais before arriving on the traditional circuit of the Champs-Elysées, arriving by Concorde. The 144 riders will then start the stage with eleven crossings of the line before the finish.
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The icing on the cake, there should be a battle, beyond the intermediate sprints at kilometers 34.8 and 55.2, with a grand prix de la montagne at Charles de Gaulle-Etoile which should be well contested after 62.4 km. Then, the sprint trains should be put in place before a final packing expected at full speed, on the Champs-Elysées.
Who are the favorites for the first yellow jersey?
They are two to be considered as the best sprinters in the world. First of all, the large Dutchwoman Lorena Wiebes (Team DSM) should be at the forefront in the last moments of the race, alongside the Italian world champion Elisa Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo), also very up to date. comfortable when it comes to generating watts.
Just behind these two big favorites, the Belgian Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx), another great lady of this season, should sprint to put on the very first yellow jersey. The Danish champion Emma Norsgaard (Movistar), the Italian Chiara Consonni (Valcar) or the French Gladys Verhulst (Le Col-Wahoo) could also be among the fastest in the last 200 meters. How, finally, not to mention the indescribable legend of women’s cycling, Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma), regularly at the forefront regardless of the profile of the race.
What are the schedules ?
1:00 p.m. : beginning of the retransmission on France 2 and france.tv
1:30 p.m.: fictitious start
1:40 p.m.: real start
3:27 p.m.: scheduled arrival on the Champs-Elysées