Author Topic: Women’s Tour de France 2022 (Read 6091 times)

giropaul · « **on:** 14 May, 2021, 08:04:30 am »

A Women’s TdF has been confirmed for 2022.

Details on NU.NL (links don’t seem to be copyable)

LittleWheelsandBig · « **Reply #1 on:** 14 May, 2021, 08:08:08 am »

It is like the 1980s all over again.

rafletcher · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 May, 2021, 08:40:49 am »

Indeed

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/may/11/tour-de-france-organisers-reveal-womens-race-will-be-revived-in-2022

No mention of route or length.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #3 on:** 12 April, 2022, 07:02:13 pm »

https://www.letourfemmes.fr/en

Eight stages, starts on July 24th in Paris (presumably immediately after the finish of the Chaps' edition), finishes July 31st at La Planches des Belles Filles. All in the NE of France, so no Alps, Pyranees or Massif Central chiz.

quixoticgeek · « **Reply #4 on:** 12 April, 2022, 07:44:22 pm »

Quote from: Mr Larrington on 12 April, 2022, 07:02:13 pm

https://www.letourfemmes.fr/en

Eight stages, starts on July 24th in Paris (presumably immediately after the finish of the Chaps' edition), finishes July 31st at La Planches des Belles Filles. All in the NE of France, so no Alps, Pyranees or Massif Central chiz.

Not a tour de france, but a tour of that corner up there in the top right...

J

mzjo · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 April, 2022, 09:18:19 am »

Quote from: quixoticgeek on 12 April, 2022, 07:44:22 pm

Quote from: Mr Larrington on 12 April, 2022, 07:02:13 pm
https://www.letourfemmes.fr/en

Eight stages, starts on July 24th in Paris (presumably immediately after the finish of the Chaps' edition), finishes July 31st at La Planches des Belles Filles. All in the NE of France, so no Alps, Pyranees or Massif Central chiz.

Not a tour de france, but a tour of that corner up there in the top right...

J

They were thinking of you; it's not so far to go to cheer them on! Probably closer to you than it is to me.

Next year they could have a start in Nl, cross Belgium and have four days rattling round the Champs! Or simply make it a Netflix "virtual event".

Of course the TdF has never in all its history been a tour de France. There is a real Tour de France, possibly a couple of different routes, but they are in no way associated with the UCI and would undoubtedly appeal far more to you from a participant point of view.

mzjo · « **Reply #6 on:** 13 April, 2022, 12:25:35 pm »

My above reply was very largely tongue in cheek but it may be closer to the truth than I was thinking. Given that women's pro road cycling (and cyclo-cross) is dominated by Benelux and north europeans it must be a lot easier to find sponsors/interest the spectators with a tour based in the north. It would cost a lot getting a tour to the Alps and the Pyrenées without necessarily a financial return. If Marianne Voss was french rather than dutch the situation might be very different but in the absence of a french household name a TdF féminin is unlikely to compete for tv time or roadside spectators in sufficient numbers in France (no matter how attractive it seems to other nationalities).

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #7 on:** 13 April, 2022, 01:50:27 pm »

ASO have already said that if it loses money it’ll be in the bin, though I'm not sure how long they’re prepared to fund it until they decide that enough is enough.

fd3 · « **Reply #8 on:** 13 April, 2022, 03:12:21 pm »

They should have a womens tour of Dubai or Oman then…

mzjo · « **Reply #9 on:** 13 April, 2022, 09:27:31 pm »

Quote from: fd3 on 13 April, 2022, 03:12:21 pm

They should have a womens tour of Dubai or Oman then…

A big publicity tour of Holland or Benelux might be a good starting point with the support of Eurosport. Make that work and you're in with a chance of convincing others.

We already have dutch and belgian cyclo-cross with the féminines featuring as well as the male races on french Eurosport. I don't go looking for it but seem to find it regularly anyway. There is a future to be built, just need to find a way of doing it.

DuncanM · « **Reply #10 on:** 14 April, 2022, 12:56:01 pm »

Flanders Classics seem to have been doing a great job with their women's races - timed to hit the interesting/crucial part of the parcours just after the men's race has finished. Coupled with the way the races work with loops (so not a large gap between seeing the racing), the vast majority of the crowd has stayed to watch the women as well. It's made for great TV, good crowds and the usual exciting racing being seen by many more people than before.

mzjo · « **Reply #11 on:** 25 April, 2022, 12:06:37 pm »

Eurosport have started plugging it in a quiet sort of way (at least the women's racing season, with the TdF included). We had some pre-event banners during the breaks in the snooker the other night. It's a start, hopefully with a continuation to come.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #12 on:** 01 May, 2022, 03:10:43 pm »

Stage 1 is before the final stage of the men's edition so no excuses for shit TV coverage will be acceptable.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #13 on:** 28 May, 2022, 11:36:11 am »

Guess what? The TV coverage will be shit, at least in BRITAIN

The men's race, as per usual, is getting the full live + highlights treatment but the women's, at least according to ITV4’s webby SCIENCE is only getting the latter.

Bethany (12): Make me happy on my birthday, why doncha?

fd3 · « **Reply #14 on:** 30 May, 2022, 12:13:18 am »

Puts it on an even keel with the Vuelta and ahead of the Giro. Not convinced it's entirely a bad thing, I don't think the women's TDF would get many viewers for full live treatment which would then be seen as failing.
I'm also not sure (from my limited experience of the Women's Tour the La Course) that organisers have sussed what to do with the races; seems they are either bunches that fail to even have a daily breakaway, ending in a sprint (without organised leadouts, making it seem more like a kids kickabout) or a mountain stage where the race gets ripped apart from the flag and coverage is of a bunch of solo riders grinding up the slope at their disparate paces.
TV and organisers looking to show highlights is a safe bet for them and a way for them to grow the idea for a year or so.

T42 · « **Reply #15 on:** 25 July, 2022, 06:48:38 am »

The women have been short-changed, though: it's a Tour de France in name only. Apart from the first couple of stages it's all in the Grand Est region, and the last three are in the Vosges and Alsace.

psyclist · « **Reply #16 on:** 25 July, 2022, 07:32:52 am »

Quote from: T42 on 25 July, 2022, 06:48:38 am

The women have been short-changed, though: it's a Tour de France in name only. Apart from the first couple of stages it's all in the Grand Est region, and the last three are in the Vosges and Alsace.

Significantly better than what has gone before, and with it being a week long race I don't think long transitions would be welcomed.

Checking the profile of the route, the last 2 days are both classified as mountain stages. That should shake things up a bit.

T42 · « **Reply #17 on:** 25 July, 2022, 10:20:52 am »

I've done most of the cols in the last 3 stages. There are a couple of decent cols there and of course the horrible Super Planche des Belles Filles.

They'll be taking over one of my favourite roads on Friday. Maybe there'll be fewer tooth-shattering bumps next time I take it.

mzjo · « **Reply #18 on:** 25 July, 2022, 10:31:56 am »

Quote from: Mr Larrington on 28 May, 2022, 11:36:11 am

Guess what? The TV coverage will be shit, at least in BRITAIN The men's race, as per usual, is getting the full live + highlights treatment but the women's, at least according to ITV4’s webby SCIENCE is only getting the latter.

Bethany (12): Make me happy on my birthday, why doncha?

Fr2-3 seem to be pushing it (as also Eurosport, I believe). If the afternoons heat up and I stick inside infront of the telly I'll see if they keep their word. Marion Rousse being a tv presenter on the men's race and course director of the women's one there's a chance that she will have been able to be persuasive

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #19 on:** 25 July, 2022, 10:43:13 am »

Quote from: mzjo on 25 July, 2022, 10:31:56 am

Quote from: Mr Larrington on 28 May, 2022, 11:36:11 am
Guess what? The TV coverage will be shit, at least in BRITAIN The men's race, as per usual, is getting the full live + highlights treatment but the women's, at least according to ITV4’s webby SCIENCE is only getting the latter.

Bethany (12): Make me happy on my birthday, why doncha?

Fr2-3 seem to be pushing it (as also Eurosport, I believe). If the afternoons heat up and I stick inside infront of the telly I'll see if they keep their word. Marion Rousse being a tv presenter on the men's race and course director of the women's one there's a chance that she will have been able to be persuasive

Sadly either I misunderstood ITV's webby SCIENCE earlier or it was lying, because TV's Gary Imlach confirmed yesterday that they’re not showing it at all chiz.

rafletcher · « **Reply #20 on:** 25 July, 2022, 10:50:55 am »

And on the off chance I checked Quest, in case they were carrying the GCN coverage, but no such luck. It would seem to be GCN, Eurosport, or Discovery+ (which can be had via Amazon Prime for £7 a month). Sadly, ICBA to set up then cancel a Discovery+ subscription just for the week.

mzjo · « **Reply #21 on:** 25 July, 2022, 02:47:04 pm »

Live on Fr3 at the moment. Peloton all grouped except those chasing to get back on after a chute at the back of the peloton. Attack going as I type. Another rider on the deck. 26kms to finish!

mzjo · « **Reply #22 on:** 25 July, 2022, 02:53:22 pm »

Two more mass chutes in the peloton. Might be losing one or two riders although no-one out so far. Attack has 40" lead, sorry I am not catching any names.

psyclist · « **Reply #23 on:** 25 July, 2022, 02:54:54 pm »

Live on Eurosport, but coverage didn't start until about 90km to go.

Lots of crashes. Looking like it'll be an exciting finish.

DuncanM · « **Reply #24 on:** 25 July, 2022, 03:27:55 pm »

Great finish.

Terrible commentary!