in Rosheim, we are preparing to welcome the arrival of a stage of the Tour de France Women

As soon as you pass the entrance sign to the village, there is bikes everywhere in Rosheim, west of Strasbourg. Some were painted, others decorated with flowers. “It’s the excitement”admits Christelle, a little out of breath on her bicycle. “For the municipality, I distribute documents, especially for the women’s Tour de France… Uh sorry the Women’s Tour de France!” The race, which is making a comeback after 33 years of absence, was launched in Paris on Sunday 24 July. She should arrive Friday for the sixth stage in Rosheim, after 128 kilometers of flat and mountain passes from Saint-Dié-des-Vosges.

In the city center of Rosheim, most windows are already decorated. “I have to manage to replace this ribbon correctly”, describes Aude, who runs a business of craft creations. In front of his sign, she installed an old bicycle on which is hung a sign: “go girls”. “Being a stopover village is something that will bring a lot of people back, a lot of visibility for the village”, she explains. “It’s really positive for all the traders in Rosheim! Besides, I think that on the Thursday before the stage, I will remain open until 9-9.30 pm.”

Raising awareness among residents

Pierre, who came by bike from Hoenheim, has already planned everything to attend the stage. “I’m going to take half a day off to be able to come to this event”he assures. “I’m going to try to park with the car not too far, then continue with the bike to Boersch, where they will cross the Klingenthal coast. And I think I will have time to come back to watch the finish, even if you’re going to have to ‘speed up’.”

“It’s exactly the same desire as on the Men’s Tour, we like it whether it’s masculine or feminine”, continues the cycling enthusiast. “We really need to make people aware to come and encourage them, so that this event lasts and gains as much weight as the men’s Tour de France, there is no reason!”

A tool for promoting the territory

This important symbol also counts for the merchants of the village. “In Rosheim, we have a large proportion of women who are business leaders”says Carole Modry, president of the Rosheim merchants association. “That was also the goal with the Tour de France Women: to say that we are women and that we are capable, whether sportingly or economically.” For the big day this Friday, all merchants will wear a polka dot jerseywith the red roses of the city of Rosheim as motifs.

“At the same time it’s a great sporting celebration, but it’s also a celebration of the promotion of our territory”explains Frédéric Bierry, President of the European Community of Alsace. “It will allow everyone who came to watch the Tour to also discover the beautiful landscapes of Alsace. This was the case when we hosted the men’s Tour de France: we wore a yellow jersey all along the Tour du Haut-Koenigsbourg. We had seen the castle all over the world!”, enthuses the chosen one. The seventh stage of the Tour de France Women will also start from Alsace, with a start given in Sélestattowards the Markstein.