2023-07-23 17:00:35
From our special correspondent on the Tour de France – The Tour de France Women started from Clermont-Ferrand on Sunday, a city that the Grande Boucle had already visited two weeks earlier with the men’s peloton. The passage of the Tour de France Women there aroused the same popular fervor as that of the men, noted the special envoy of France 24. Reportage.
Published on: 07/23/2023 – 17:00
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Place de Jaude became the “yellow square” for a day on Sunday July 23, in Clermont-Ferrand, in central France. The madness of the Tour de France has invaded the capital of Auvergne, which has been colored with colorful jerseys, T-shirts with red polka dots, green bucket hats and other flags… The champions of the little queen begin their Big Loop just as their male counterparts are preparing to take their last sprint on the Champs-Élysées.
In the streets of the city center, the fervor is similar to that triggered in mid-July by the passage of male runners. An audience of cycling and Tour de France enthusiasts came to cheer on the 22 teams and 154 riders. Among them, the greatest hopes of tricolor cycling do not hide their emotion in the face of this cycling people who responded present.
“After the Champs-Élysées last year, we were waiting to see if the public would be present this year in Clermont. And it is there”, notes Evita Muzic, who is competing in her second Grande Boucle on behalf of the FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope.
“Last year, I said to myself that the screams were because it was in my region. But, there this morning, on the podium, I had chills! There were a lot of people who encouraged me, it was great”, comments Juliette Labous, who finished 2nd in the Giro at the beginning of the month. The cries of “Juliette! Juliette!” snatch a big smile from him as they reach the starting line. “I was a little apprehensive because it was normal for the first edition to attract people. But we had to confirm this year and in the end, I have the impression that there are almost more people.”
This Australian came to encourage the Australian riders and the Jayco-Ula team. © Romain Houeix, France 24
Each passage of a team to present itself on the presentation podium earns the runners an ovation. The FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope, the only French team taking part in the World Tour – the first cycling division – won the applause meter, closely followed by the other French teams: Cofidis, Saint-Michel-Auber93 and Arkea Pro Cycling. Marianne Vos’ Jumbo-Visma, Annemiek van Vleuten’s Movistar and Juliette Labous’ DSM are also not doing badly, no doubt thanks to their jerseys similar to the men’s team.
“Two rounds or nothing !”
The city of Clermont-Ferrand had focused its communication around the slogan “Two Tours or nothing!”, A reference to the double passage of the Tour, a first time between July 10 and 12 for men and a second time these July 23 and 24 for women. And if, on the eve of the event, the locals feared a wet firecracker for the women, it is clear that the enthusiasm was finally out.
“Last year, it was great to have a handover between the last stage of the men and the first of the women in Paris. Now, the appointment is made. And we see the public respond present for this Grand Départ”, notes Marion Rousse, director of the Tour de France, a few minutes from whistling the kick-off.
In the midst of Colombian, Breton and Australian flags, the Auvergnats present do not have a different opinion on the fan zone set up by the city of Clermont-Ferrand.
A fan zone has been set up on Place de Jaude so that the public can enjoy the start and the stage. © Romain Houeix, France 24
“This fan zone is superb, very well placed. We don’t see much difference with the men a few days ago. There is real support for the women”, explains Johnny, a 49-year-old antique dealer, who came with his two children.
His son Jouhan is delighted to have had a second opportunity to hunt for trinkets from the publicity caravan. He wears a polka dot T-shirt from the sponsor of the best climber’s jersey, the sky blue bucket hat from the sponsor of the best young rider and a flag of the department. “It brings people all that. It’s friendly”, explains the 17-year-old teenager, who does not particularly follow cycling outside the Tour.
The youngest is more shy but she still has the happy smile of someone having a good day. After an introduction to cycling on one of the stands, she was able to see her past heroines on the giant screen. From now on, she wants to pedal “like them”.
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