Upcoming 2025 Tour de France Femmes with Zwift: Essential Facts to Consider
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, a revitalised and modern incarnation of a women's multi-stage race, has officially begun in Brittany, France's far north-west. This nine-day event marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of parity in professional cycling.
The Tour de France Femmes, launched in 2022, is a distinctive break from the past, with a history that contrasts sharply with the men's Tour de France, which has been held annually since 1903. While the men's race has over a century of continuous history and deep cultural significance, the women's race has faced interruptions and financial difficulties until its recent stable reintroduction.
Key differences between the two tours include the duration, scale, legacy, sponsorship, media coverage, and race route. The women's Tour de France Femmes is currently a nine-day stage race, while the men’s Tour lasts about three weeks. The men’s race has a rich legacy, while the women’s race has faced interruptions and financial difficulties until its recent stable reintroduction. The women’s race heavily benefits from Zwift sponsorship and is positioned as a major step forward for women's cycling, addressing past underfunding and media neglect.
The race covers a total distance of 1,165km over nine stages, featuring a total climbing of 17,240m. The leader's jersey is yellow, and there are multiple other races going on within the Tour de France Femmes, such as the green jersey competition for the leader of the points classification and the polka dot jersey competition for the leader of the climbing classification.
This year, Pauline Ferrand-Prevéot, the mountain bike Olympic champion, returned to the road scene after a six-year absence. Notable riders like Puck Pieterse, winner of La Fleche Wallonne, will lead Fenix-Deceuninck, and Elisa Longo Borghini, winner of the Giro d'Italia women, will lead UAE Team ADQ. Last year's winner, Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon SRAM), will be seeking to defend her title.
The race is part of the Women's WorldTour and features a total prize fund of €250,000, with the winner receiving €50,000. TV coverage for the race in the UK is provided by ITV4 and Discovery Plus, while TV coverage for the race in the US is provided by NBC and Peacock TV.
The race concludes in Châtel, a picturesque town in the French Alps, promising an exhilarating finale to this historic event. The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift represents a significant step forward for women's cycling, offering a platform for the world's best female riders to showcase their skills and talents on a global stage.
References: [1] https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jun/24/tour-de-france-femmes-zwift-launches-new-era-for-womens-cycling [2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/61499208 [3] https://www.britannica.com/sports/Tour-de-France [4] https://www.tourdefrance.com/en/race/tour-de-france-femmes-2022/race-info/race-information/race-info-stages
Sports enthusiasts eagerly await the race results of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, a significant milestone in the world of sports and a testament to the progress made in professional women's cycling. This nine-day stage race, part of the Women's WorldTour, offers a platform for the world's best female riders to showcase their skills and talents on a global stage.
