The Role of Women's Cycling

The relationship between women and the Tour de France reflects broader struggles for gender equality in sport and society. Women were explicitly banned from the original Tour, with Henri Desgrange declaring that women's place was "at home, not on a bicycle seat." This attitude persisted for decades, even as women demonstrated their cycling abilities in other races and informal challenges.

The first serious attempt at a women's Tour de France came in 1955 when Jean Leulliot, organizer of the Route de France, created a five-day women's stage race. Despite its success, it failed to gain the support needed for continuation. In 1984, the Tour de France Féminin was launched, running concurrently with the men's race but over shorter distances. This event, won by American Marianne Martin in its inaugural edition, ran until 1989, showcasing talents like France's Jeannie Longo, who would become one of the most successful cyclists in history.

The absence of a women's Tour de France from 1989 to 2022 became increasingly controversial as women's professional cycling grew in quality and popularity. Various one-day races and shorter stage races partly filled the void, but none carried the prestige or media attention of the Tour de France. The successful relaunch of the Tour de France Femmes in 2022, won by Dutch rider Annemiek van Vleuten, marked a crucial step toward equality in professional cycling.

The modern Tour de France Femmes, while shorter than the men's race at eight stages, has quickly established itself as a highlight of the women's cycling calendar. The race attracts the world's best riders, receives significant media coverage, and has generated enthusiastic roadside crowds. French riders like Audrey Cordon-Ragot and Juliette Labous have become household names, inspiring a new generation of young women to take up competitive cycling.

The integration of women's cycling into the Tour de France brand represents more than sporting progress; it reflects changing social attitudes and the recognition that excluding half the population from cycling's most prestigious event was both unjust and commercially shortsighted. The success of the Tour de France Femmes has prompted discussions about expanding the race and ensuring equal prize money, debates that mirror broader conversations about gender equality in French society.