The 1955 Breakthrough That Wasn't

In 1955, Jean Leulliot, race director of the Circuit de l'Ouest, proposed a women's Tour de France to run simultaneously with the men's race. His proposal, backed by several women's cycling organizations, reached serious discussion stage before being rejected by Tour leadership. The reasons given—logistical complexity, financial concerns, lack of qualified female riders—masked deeper resistance to fundamental change.

International Comparisons

While France resisted, other nations showed greater openness to women's cycling. The Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries, ideologically committed to gender equality (however imperfectly implemented), developed strong women's cycling programs. British women like Beryl Burton set records that exceeded men's performances. These international examples increased pressure on French cycling but produced little change.