Turn for the “femmes”
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift celebrates its second edition, following last year's great success. Thus, the world's most important race, the Tour de France, is starting to solidify its women's event, which in its inaugural edition was already the most-watched women's race of the year. As in the first edition, the first stage of the women's Tour coincides with the last stage of the men's Tour, a decision we consider a success to attract the widest possible audience from the general public of the men's race. Although full equality between men's and women's cycling is still far away, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is an essential step that brings us closer to the ultimate goal.
Route
The race consists of 8 stages. Presumably, there will be three or four opportunities for sprinters and two or three stages for punchers, while the final weekend will see the race decided on the ascent to Tourmalet (17.2 km at 7.3%) on Saturday and on the 23 km-ITT on Sunday.
Favorites
Annemiek Van Vleuten (1200) and Demi Vollering (1200) are the two top favorites for the general classification, and anything other than a victory for one of these two cyclists could be considered a huge surprise. Other contenders for a good general classification are Elisa Longo Borghini (1200), Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (1000), Marta Cavalli (800), Juliette Labous (1000), Katarzyna Niewiadoma (1000), Silvia Persico (1000), Liane Lippert (1000), Cecile Uttrup Ludwig (1000), Veronica Ewers (400), Erica Magnaldi (400), Ricarda Bauernfeind (200), and Mavi García Cañellas (800).
For the sprints, Lorena Wiebes (1200) has been the dominant force in recent years and is the top favorite to win several stages. Marianne Vos (1200), Charlotte Kool (800), Elisa Balsamo (1000), Chiara Consonni (800), Coryn Labecki (600), Emma Norsgaard (800), Chiara Copponi (800), Lotta Henttala (200), and Rachele Barbieri (400) are also among the fastest riders.
Additionally, there are other contenders for stage victories: riders like Marlen Reusser (1000), Elise Chabbey (1000), Lotte Kopecky (1000), Grace Brown (800), Alexandra Manly (800), and Alison Jackson (800) will have their eyes on hilly stages and the ITT
Photo: © Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift