Today the women’s Tour de France starts – the highlights

As the three-week Tour de France winds down, the second edition of the Tour de France begins on Sunday. These are the top facts about the eight-day women’s tour.

distance

A year after the Tour de France was relaunched, the start was not in Paris again, but in Clermont-Ferrand, about 170 kilometers west of Lyon. From there the road leads to the south of the country in the direction of the Pyrenees. The tour ends after a week in Bo. The program includes four flat sections, two hill sections, a mountain stage and a time trial at the end.

King stage

The focus of the tour is the King’s Theater on the penultimate day with a historic mountain finish on the Col du Tourmalet.

No other mountain pass has been more crossed in the Tour de France than the legendary mountain in the Pyrenees. The section is only 90km long, but with the Col d’Aspin, it includes a challenging and well-known second climb. In all likelihood, the outcome of this stage will also determine the overall standings, because in the 17 km Tourmalet and difficult climbs, strong climbers can gain several minutes in the competition.

the swiss

Unlike last year’s premiere, this year’s program includes a time trial, which makes specialists like Marilyn Rosser from Berne happy.

The Olympic bronze medalist from Tokyo will be among the competitors in the 22 km time trial on the final day. Before that, this year’s Tour de Suisse winner will be in service of her captain, Demi Fullering, at Team SD Worx.

Trips like the one that happened a year ago are out of the question. At the time, Reusser won the fourth stage after single-handedly doing more than 20 km in Bar-Sur-Aube. Two days later she had to abandon the tour after a fall.

Marilyn Rosser.Photo: Imago

Along with Elena Hartmann of Israel-Premier Tech Roland and Elise Schabi, two more Swiss women are on the provisional starting list. The latter has already proven several times in the main tours that he can keep up with the best over several days. Last year, the 30-year-old rider from Geneva finished 11th overall. The total number of contestants reached 154 from 22 teams at the start.

Elena HartmannPhoto: Cornerstone

Elise Chappy.Photo: Imago

Favorite

Annemiek van Vleuten’s name always comes up when it comes to the top favorite to win overall. The Dutch won last year’s edition in such a dominant way that no one really doubts that this victory will be repeated. The 40-year-old, who has already won everything in cycling, will not lack motivation. Because this year’s Tour de France will be the last of her career; She will retire at the end of the year. Van Vleuten proved her mettle with a big win in the Giro d’Italia Donne earlier this month.

Anime van VleutenPhoto: AP/Pool Getty Images

But there is a serious competitor in Van Vleuten’s compatriot Demi Vollering. Marlene Rosser’s teammate and last year’s second has had a great season so far. Drivers such as Cassia Neviadoma who finished third last year from Poland or Italy’s Elisa Longo Borghini are also expected to be able to achieve a lot in the battle for May. (sda)

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