Women’s Tour de France: Start at Lake Geneva, over Mont Ventoux to Nice

The tour runs from August 1st to 9th de France Femmes over nine stages from Lausanne to Nice. After the start in Switzerland, the field rolls to France on the third stage. The program includes a total of three flat stages, three hilly sections, two mountain stages and an individual time trial over 21 kilometers. At 1,175 kilometers and 18,795 meters in altitude, it is the longest and most demanding event since the new edition in 2022.

The individual time trial to Dijon on the 4th stage is likely to create larger gaps between the top favorites in the overall classification for the first time. However, the key section is the 7th stage with the first mountain finish at the legendary Mont Ventoux in the history of the Tour de France Femmes. The 8th and longest stage to Nice as well as the demanding finale around the Col d’Èze offer further attack opportunities for the classification riders. Pure climbers, time trial specialists and all-rounders – they all see their chance at the yellow jersey.

Franziska Koch as a promising German cyclist

From a German perspective, Franziska Koch stands out. The German champion is having a strong season, won the prestigious Paris-Roubaix classic in the spring, achieved several top 10 placements at the Vuelta in Spain in May and wore the red jersey of the overall leader for two days. After finishing second overall at the Giro, 23-year-old Antonia Niedermaier is making her tour debut with great confidence and has the potential for a top placement. Niedermaier’s primary role at the German team Canyon SRAM is to help former winner Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney. Liane Lippert is hoping for individual success.

Defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, former winner Demi Vollering or Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney – once again there is a top-class field at the start. Drivers like former world champion Lotte Kopecky, Vuelta winner Paula Blasi, the resurgent Marlen Reusser and Urska Zigart, partner of five-time Tour winner Tadej Pogacar, also want to cause a sensation.

In addition to the prestigious The yellow jersey is also up for prize money totaling 250,000 euros. The winner of the overall ranking receives 50,000 euros. This makes the Tour de France Femmes one of the best-paid races in women’s cycling, but the difference to the men’s tour remains large: there the overall winner collects 500,000 euros – ten times as much.