History will be made this weekend as the Tour de France Femmes, sponsored by virtual cycling platform Zwift, gets underway in Paris.There have been variations of the race over the years, but it will be the first time the event is officially held by the men's Tour de France organisers.It takes the form of an eight-stage race contested over 1,029 kilometres, starting in Paris and ending at Super Planche des Belles Filles.With anticipation building, GiveMeSport Women runs through everything you need to know about the Tour de France Femmes.
When is the Tour de France Femmes?
The Tour de France Femmes will start on Saturday July 24th, and conclude on Sunday July 31st.
What are the Tour de France Femmes stages?
There will be eight stages in total – three flat, three hilly, and back-to-back mountain stages at the end.
Stage 1, July 24th: Paris Eiffel Tower to Paris Champs-Élysées, 82km
Stage 2, July 25th,: Meaux to Provins, 135km
Stage 3, July 26th: Reims to Épernay, 133km
Stage 4, July 27th: Troyes to Bar-sur-Aube, 126km
Stage 5, July 28th: Bar-le-Duc to Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, 175km
Stage 6, July 29th: Saint-Dié-des-Vosges to Rosheim, 128km
Stage 7, July 30th: Sélestat to Le Markstein, 127km
Stage 8, July 31st: Lure to Super Planche des Belles Filles, 123km
Who is favourite to win the Tour de France Femme?
With 24 teams competing in the Tour de France Femme, up to 168 riders will be taking to the roads in an attempt to make history.
But only one can win – here are the top three contenders.
Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar)
It’s hard to look past Annemiek van Vleuten as the first winner of the Tour de France Femmes.
The Dutchwoman, who won an Olympic gold medal in the time trial at Tokyo 2020, is also a three-time road world champion.
She earned her third Giro d'Italia title earlier this year, and also triumphed at the Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
Van Vleuten is certainly in formidable form, and having trained in the Pyrenees and at altitude in Andorra recently, she is ready for the Tour de France Femmes’s mountainous conclusion.
Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo)
Elisa Longo Borghini is another in excellent form this year. The Italian was victorious at the Women’s Tour in May, before winning the battle on the notorious cobbles of Paris-Roubaix the following month.
The 30-year-old is also part of the strongest team in the race – with Ellen van Dijk, Audrey Cordon-Ragot and Elisa Balsamo supporting her, Longo Borghini could add another historic title to her collection.
Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma)
The 35-year-old Marianne Vos is unlikely to be targeting an overall win, but she will likely dominate on the flat and rolling stages at the beginning of the Tour de France Femmes.
Vos has done it all during her career. The Dutchwoman has three Giro d'Italia titles, three world titles, and an Olympic gold medal from London 2012. Can she surpass expectations and make more history in France?
What is the prize money available at the Tour de France Femmes?
The total prize pot at the Tour de France Femmes is $250,000 (£209,105), with the winner set to receive $50,000 (£41,800).
How to watch the Tour de France Femmes
The 2022 Tour de France Femmes will be broadcast in the UK on Eurosport, and streamed on Discovery+ and GCN+.