“Incredible epilogue” final, “panting” or even “Dantesque” : the day after the last stage of the 2024 Women’s Tour de France, which ended on Sunday, August 18, the press is unanimous. A popular and sporting success, this third edition will have kept cycling fans on the edge of their seats until the end of the 949.7 kilometers of this Grande Boucle.
Having come third in the first two editions, the Polish Katarzyna Niewiadoma, 29, won her first Tour de France at Alpe d’Huez after a thrilling race, with only four seconds separating her from her rival, the Dutchwoman Demi Vollering. The latter, who was tipped to be one of the big favourites but was significantly slowed down in the general classification by a fall during the 5th stage, nevertheless won today’s stage, but it was Niewiadoma who retained the yellow jersey (with a time of 24 hours, 36 minutes and 7 seconds). She became the first Polish woman to win the event.
The public is there despite the particular context
For its 3rd edition, the women’s Tour chose to start abroad, setting off from Rotterdam on August 12.. A first. “It is a sign of the influence of the women’s Tour de France, and a guarantee of popular success,” had confided the race president, Marion Rousse, to France Info. A winning bet, since throughout the eight stages, including four in France, the public was rather there.
The first stage brought together 150,000 spectators along the roadsides towards The Hague. The context of the 2024 edition was however particular, since the race was disconnected from the men’s Tour (June 29-July 21), all in a post-Olympic Games context. Difficult to mobilize the public from the end of June to mid-August!
“On D-1, there were quite a few camper vans parked along the route, even in the mountain stages,” believes Claire Floret. President of the association Donnons des elles au vélo, which has long campaigned for a women’s Tour de France, she was a flag-waving fan on D-1 of the Tour stages. “But when I attended the last stage, I saw a very family-oriented audience: little girls and young girls, a lot of women, which is a positive sign when you know the impact of the “role model”, of seeing people of the same sex in competition.”
According to her, women’s cycling is also becoming more and more popular among men. “I see more and more men getting excited about women’s performances on the Tour, knowing the names of the riders…” While television audiences have fallen on France Télévisions (between 1.5 and 2 million viewers during the week), they have soared in Belgium (+20% audience compared to 2023) and in the Netherlands (+40%), proving a marked interest in the Women’s Tour outside France.
French female runners carrying
One name in particular was on everyone’s lips: that of Cédrine Kerbaol, from Brest and the first French woman to win a stage of the Tour, by winning the 6th stage in Morteau. “Cédrine, she takes risks, especially downhill, she has confidence, rent Claire Floret. She deconstructs prejudices about women, which are often that they should not take risks, remain vigilant… Cédrine is not afraid of anything!
Finally, three French women are positioned in the top 10 in the general classification: Évita Muzic in 4th place, Cédrine Kerbaol in 6th and Juliette Labous in 9th position. “We knew that for this to work, we needed French female runners with whom the public could identify, recalls the president of Donnons des elles au vélo. It’s done! »
Especially since this race was particularly difficult, with two mountain stages including the legendary ascent of Alpe d’Huez. “When I saw the route in October, I was afraid that we were going a little too fast in terms of difficulty, remembers the women’s cycling activist. We are moving towards homogeneity with the men’s Tour, but that takes time. However, the female riders proved us wrong, with this suspense until the last minute!”
The women’s Tour de France seems to have established itself in the landscape of French sporting competitions with a pull effect, both in terms of public enthusiasm and sponsors, whose number is growing every year. “3 editions, 3 successes, it’s no longer a stroke of luck or simple curiosity to see women on a bike: it works and it will continue to grow towards ever more professionalization, homogeneity and sponsors. “The organization of the women’s Tour de France has already announced that the 4th edition, in 2025, would take place immediately after the men’s Tour, and would even be extended by an extra day. Which delights Claire Floret. “This is a super positive signal!”
