Women's Tour de France receives positive praise from competition director Marion Rousse, expressing her joy over the event's growing popularity.
Tour de France Femmes 2025: Women's Cycling Steps Closer to Men's Parity
The fourth edition of the Tour de France women's race is making waves in the world of cycling, showcasing the significant progress of women's cycling. The race, directed by Marion Rousse, has seen French rider Maëva Squiban win her second stage in a row on Friday, with thousands of spectators lining the roads in support.
The peloton will tackle the queen stage of this year's race on Saturday between Chambéry and Saint-François Longchamp. This stage includes the ascent of the Col de la Madeleine, a new mythical summit that the Tour de France women's race is tackling this year. The Col de la Madeleine, with its hors catégorie status, is considered one of the toughest climbs in the race.
Rousse believes that the evolution of women's cycling allows for such a challenging ascent. She predicts that Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, who is currently second in the general classification, will reveal herself during the queen stage on Saturday. Ferrand-Prévot has not lost any time after seven days of racing and is calm before the ascent of the Col de la Madeleine.
The Col de la Madeleine ascent is tougher than the Tourmalet climbed in 2023, according to Rousse. The finish of the queen stage will be judged at the Col de la Madeleine, where the Tour de France women's race is expected to be decided.
The increase in race length and the challenge of iconic climbs like the Col de la Madeleine demonstrate a trajectory toward closer parity with men’s multi-week Tours. However, some riders and experts suggest that extending race length substantially beyond nine days requires growth in the women’s peloton size and support infrastructure.
Rousse, who is now a consultant for France Télévisions, expressed her happiness regarding the event. She believes that the level of competition in women’s cycling, particularly in the Tour de France Femmes, has significantly homogenized and deepened over recent years. The day of Maëva Squiban's victory was once again marked by impressive popular enthusiasm, further highlighting the growing interest in women's cycling.
[1] Tour de France Femmes: The Evolution of Women's Cycling
[2] Tour de France Femmes 2025: A Closer Look at the Queen Stage
[3] Col de la Madeleine: The Mythical Summit of the Tour de France Femmes
[4] The Future of Women's Cycling: Towards Equivalence with Men's Tours
[1] Tour de France Femmes continues to catalyze the evolution of women's sports, showcasing arduous climbs and fierce competition.
[2] The queen stage of Tour de France Femmes 2025, featuring the Col de la Madeleine ascent, signifies a significant step towards parity with men's multi-week Tours.
