2023-08-28 12:00:09
The French Cédrine Kerbaol, winner of the white jersey of best young person on the Tour de France Women 2023, in Pau, July 30, 2023. AP
Before putting their name on the Tour de France list, Tadej Pogacar, Egan Bernal, Laurent Fignon, Miguel Indurain and even Greg Lemond had all already been invited to the annals of another race: the Tour de l’Avenir. This cycling competition in stages, created in 1961 and reserved for riders under 23, pits the potential winners of tomorrow against each other. With success : “Those who won the Tour de l’Avenir then asserted themselves at the highest level”summarizes Jean Durry, specialist in sports literature and founder of the National Sports Museum.
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For the first time this year, the men’s edition, which ended on Sunday August 27 in Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise (Savoie) with the victory of the Mexican Isaac del Toro, is followed by a female version, from August 28 to September 1, 2023. “The Tour de l’Avenir is part of the direction of history”, welcomes Philippe Bouvet, member of the organization. For several years, the International Cycling Union (UCI) has been pushing for the development of women’s cycling. The return of a women’s Tour de France in the summer of 2022 was the most symbolic step forward.
According to audience figures provided by France Télévisions, broadcaster of the event, the second edition (from July 23 to 30, 2023) brought together nearly two million viewers on average for each of the eight stages, with a peak of more than 4.3 million when arriving at the top of the Tourmalet. An enthusiasm confirmed by the public who came en masse to the edges of the roads to encourage the runners. “The success of the Women’s Grande Boucle responds to public expectations and general enthusiasm for hosting this event”explains Philippe Bouvet.
A reference test but without visibility
On the same model as the men’s version, the women’s Tour de l’Avenir is contested by national teams, to which is added an Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes team. The peloton – made up of twenty formations of six riders – will start from Saône-et-Loire, with an inaugural time trial around Saint-Vallier (14.8 km), then head towards Ain and the foothills of the Jura, to end in Savoie after five days of racing. A demanding route with a final stage in the form of an apotheosis with the sequence of the Col des Saisies (13.7 km at 5.1%) then the Cormet de Roselend before the arrival in Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise.
“The Women’s Tour de l’Avenir, revealing talent, should have the same repercussions by preparing future generations”predicts Jean Durry, while among the boys, fifteen winners of the event then offered themselves the yellow jersey on the Grande Boucle. “It is very likely that this year’s winner will one day win the Tour de France”, insists Philippe Colliou, director of the Tour de l’Avenir. For good reason, argues Philippe Bouvet: “The Tour de l’Avenir is a Tour de France in miniature. »
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