2023-07-27 15:50:56
A year after the first edition, the public has responded to the call since the start in Clermont-Ferrand on July 23. This confirms the positive reception of the first edition in 2022.
Published on: 07/27/2023 – 15:50
3 mn
From our special correspondent,
« There will always be people to criticize the Women’s Tour de France, too bad for them. But the audience is there! The Frenchwoman Audrey Cordon-Ragot is not mistaken. Whether at the start or finish of stages, the crowd is there. And on the course, as for the men, we take out the caravans, we have lunch with the family, while waiting to see the race pass.
« Çincreased our strength »
« It’s so nice to see all these people. We get up in the morning with a smile, telling ourselves that we are going to be encouraged, it increases our strength tenfold says Margaux Vigie enthusiastically. The tricolor expects to see people next Saturday in the climb of the Tourmalet. Vans and motorhomes should flourish in numbers in this mythical pass of the Pyrenees, with an army of Belgian and Dutch followers, as for the men.
In Montiganc-Lascaux, at the finish of the third stage, the yellow jersey Lotte Kopecky had the opportunity to take selfies and sign autographs, to the delight of the spectators who came most of the time with their families. They are a lot to appreciate the proximity with the champions.
« It’s cool to be here. I am taken aback by the number of people on the roads. Even when you pass through small villages, there are people. The atmosphere is amazing exults Léa Curinier, at the start of the fourth stage in Cahors. What to have goosebumps. ” I can not believe it. I am very happy. There were so many people, it was screaming, it was amazing “, said the Dutch Yara Kastelijn during her first professional victory in Cahors on Wednesday July 26, alone.
« There are a lot of people. I see it as a sign that the public has adopted us »
On the side of the organizers, we are delighted, while being cautious. ” From Clermont-Ferrand there are people and we hope there will be some all along the road to Pau, reacts Franck Perque, race director. The goal is to have a popular party to support the best runners in the world ».
« There are a lot of people. I see it as a sign that the public has adopted us », Said the race director, Marion Rousse, at the start of this second edition of the Grande Boucle ladies, the organization of which was taken over last year by ASO, also in charge of the men’s event.
« We didn’t know what to expect. It’s beyond what I imagined “, had commented last year the Dutch Marianne Vos, who had worn the yellow jersey for five days during the first edition. The triple world champion on the road will continue to drink whey until Pau, Sunday July 30. Apart from the Tour de France, such an atmosphere is rare in women’s cycling.
#edition #popular #enthusiasm