Counting people on the side of the road has never been an exact science. But the crowd present throughout the climb of the Super-Planche-des-Belles-Filles (Haute-Saône), Sunday July 31, confirms the general impression given by the Tour de France Women 2022: that of a success popular encouraging for the future.
Dormant for thirty-three years and a previous version in the 1980s, the Grande Boucle women’s version was eagerly awaited. By the main concerned first: the cyclists. “We didn’t know what to expect. It’s beyond what I imagined.” said Marianne Vos. Green jersey and winner of two stages, the Dutchwoman animated this Tour which she had been calling for for years.
On Saturday, the rider from the Jumbo-Visma team left her yellow jersey – worn for five days – to her compatriot Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar training) during a seventh stage followed by 2.7 million people on France 2 for a 30% market share. With the exception of Monday, the public service shows audiences of more than two million viewers on average.
To hear Marion Rousse, the director of the event, this first edition endorses the idea of a race organized in the wake of that of the men. “I know there has been a long debate, but I was convinced that people were willing to continue watching cycling in Julyshe assures. It was the best date, it’s a fourth week of the Tour and we have to stay like that. »
“Not a second-rate race next to the men’s Tour”
Another debate, he risks occupying the former champion of France: that of the duration of the event. If the legs were a little heavy at the top of the “Planche” and its passages with more than 20% drop, the cyclists are not against prolonging the pleasure, limited to eight days for the moment. “I can see ten stages soon and why not two weeks”, advances the Polish Kasia Niewadoma (Canyon-SRAM Racing), third in the general classification. According to Marion Rousse, the discussion exists “but the eight-day format is suitable for everyone”.
For the moment ? “Most of the girls are able to do three weeks, but it’s at the coaching level that we are not able to follow”, confided Stephen Delcourt a few days before leaving the Champs-Elysées. The manager of the FDJ-Suez training observes with a mixture of enthusiasm and concern the development of women’s cycling in less than two years. “Our sport is not mature, there are big differences in level and that’s normal. I understand that ASO [Amuary Sport Organisation, l’organisateur de l’épreuve] wanted to accompany certain teams by having them participate in this great race, but there are cyclists who do not have the experience. »
With twenty-four teams of six riders, ASO brewed wide and invited four French teams at Continental level (second division). Not spared by bad luck, the formation of Stade Rochelais (380,000 euros budget) only had Séverine Eraud to bring back to Charente-Maritine. In a motorhome. On the morning of the stages, the economic gap could be seen in the parking lot between the gleaming coaches of the World Tour formations and the more modest fleet of certain teams from the Continental division.
According to some managers, this difference in means – particularly in terms of bicycles – may have explained the absence of a time trial. Marion Rousse gives another reason: “A stopwatch also means less audience, advances the usual consultant of France Télévisions. This year, it was very important to be attractive. But we do not forbid ourselves to put some in the next years. »
The director of the event gives an appointment on October 27 for the presentation of the course of the second edition. After the explosive weekend in the Vosges in 2022, the high mountains are looming with a choice to be made between the Pyrenees or the Alps. A departure abroad is also mentioned for 2024. Unsurprisingly, the name of a Dutch city comes up insistently.
Something to delight the yellow jersey of this Tour, Annemiek van Vleuten, happy to have been the protagonist of a future major event in world sport. “There are so many people who came to see us, we feel in each village that this Tour is alive and well, she rejoiced after her final victory. It’s not a second-rate race next to the men’s Tour. It’s a great start. »