Tour de France Femmes 2022
Tour de France Femmes 2022 race news, results, tour map, race tech, analysis, and photos.
DATES: JULY 24 - JULY 31
STAGES: 8
START: PARIS
FINISH: PLANCHE DES BELLES FILLES
TOUR DE FRANCE FEMMES KEY STORIES
- Chloé Dygert puts Tour de France Femmes at center of comeback plans
- Marianne Vos will race the Giro d’Italia Donne and Tour de France Femmes this summer
- Marion Rousse: The TV pundit and former rider building a Tour de France Femmes to last
- The 24 teams selected for the Tour de France Femmes
- A course to make history from Paris to Planche des Belles Filles
- Did ASO get it right with 2022 Tour de France Femmes route?
TOUR DE FRANCE FEMMES CONTENDERS
With a chance to win an official Tour de France for women for the first time in over 30 years, the peloton will be packed out with star names in Paris on July 24.
Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) is the big favorite to take the title on the Planche des Belles Filles at the end of July. The Dutch rider has been a dominant force in the peloton for six years and the Tour de France Femmes would be a crowning glory on an illustrious career. The lack of a time trial will be a frustration for Van Vleuten, but her climbing prowess is more than enough to contend for a win without the TT.
There is going to be some stiff competition for that prestigious yellow jersey and Demi Vollering will lead the charge for SD Worx. She has developed massively as a rider in recent years and will be a formidable opponent.
Elisa Longo Borghini will be the team leader for Trek-Segafredo at the Tour de France Femmes. Despite some illnesses, the Italian has had a brilliant season so far and looks to potentially be in her best-ever shape.
Marta Cavalli has been one of the stars of the season for FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope. Together with Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, they could prove a strong combination.
Elsewhere, Juliette Labous (Team DSM) has had a good year and will be a strong opponent, while Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) will be looking to put some early-season frustrations behind her.
TOUR DE FRANCE FEMMES SPRINTERS
The sprinters will get a chance at donning the first yellow jersey of the race when it opens with a flat stage around Paris. It connects the race with the men’s event, but it’s also a nod to the event’s beginnings as a one-day race in the French capital.
Lorena Wiebes (Team DSM) has proved herself to be the quickest woman on two wheels this season and she will be the hot favorite for that first yellow jersey. Going up against her in the hunt for an opening-day win will be the likes of world champion Elisa Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo), Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma), Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx), Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ), and Chiara Consonni (Valcar-Travel & Service).
TOUR DE FRANCE FEMMES ROUTE
With so much attention placed on this revived Tour de France Femmes, the choice of course was going to be as important as ever. ASO only had eight days to pack in as much as it could from sprint opportunities to days that could see the breakaway go and the all-important mountain stages.
One of the biggest stories from the route announcement was what wasn’t there, a time trial. It’s a bold choice but it’s one that could keep the GC an open playing field for much longer.
The opening stage around Paris will be a major highlight for the sprinters with an opportunity to earn the first yellow jersey of the race. Stage 2 will be another chance for the sprinters to enjoy some stage success.
As the race moves east, the climbs increase and there will be five classified climbs on stage 3. This could go to a breakaway, but the ascents aren’t so hard that the sprinters will be struggling. It depends on how it’s raced.
Stage 4 sees four sectors of gravel in the second half of the stage and GC riders will have to be wary not to get caught out and lose time on this one. The following day is the longest day in women’s cycling at 175km and will test the tired legs in the pack. Stage 6 features some small but punchy climbs that could split the group if ridden hard enough.
The final weekend will feature the high mountains with a trip up the Grand Ballon for stage 7 and a tough finale on the Planche des Belles Filles to round it all off.