2022 UCI Women's World Tour, race 16 of 23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Route of the 2022 Tour de France Femmes
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Race details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dates | 24–31 July 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stages | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distance | 1,033.6[1] km (642.2 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Winning time | 26 h 55 m 44 s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2023 → |
The 2022 Tour de France Femmes (officially Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift) was the first edition of the Tour de France Femmes, which took place from 24 to 31 July 2022. It was the 16th event in the 2022 UCI Women's World Tour and followed years of campaigning by the women's professional peloton for an equivalent race to the men's Tour de France. The race drew large crowds, had substantial international media coverage, and was highly praised by the public, media, teams and riders.
The race was won by Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar Team), taking the general classification (GC) leader's yellow jersey (French: maillot jaune) by winning both mountain stages in the latter part of the race. Demi Vollering (SD Worx) finished in second place after finishing behind van Vleuten on both mountain stages. Vollering also took the polka-dot jersey as winner of the Queen of the Mountains (QoM) classification. Third place went to Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon–SRAM), who put in a consistent performance during the first six stages and finished in the top five on both mountain stages.
Marianne Vos (Team Jumbo–Visma) won the green jersey for points classification and the super-combativity award, following consistent stage finishes and two stage wins in the early part of the race. Another two stages were won by sprinter Lorena Wiebes (Team DSM). Shirin van Anrooij (Trek–Segafredo) took the white jersey as the winner of the young rider classification, which was awarded to the best-placed GC rider under the age of 23. Canyon–SRAM won the team classification as the team with the lowest aggregate time among their three best-placed riders.
The Tour de France is an annual men's multiple-stage bicycle race held primarily in France, first held in 1903. Since the mid 1980s, various professional women's cycle stage races across France were held as an equivalent race for women, using the Tour de France Féminin name from 1984 to 1989.[2][3] These races struggled with financial difficulties, limited media coverage, sexism and trademark issues with the organisers of the Tour de France, Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO).[4][5][6] The last of these races took place in 2009.[7]
In 2013, activist group Le Tour Entier (“the whole tour”) began pushing for a women's Tour de France and other improvements to women's cycling.[2][8] Following substantial media coverage, and a petition signed by over 100,000 people,[9] ASO launched La Course by Le Tour de France in 2014.[10][11] The one-day stage race would take place prior to the final stage of the men's race in Paris.[11] Between 2014 and 2021, La Course took place in a variety of locations across France in conjunction with the men's race, with ASO arguing that this was the "best way to shine a light on female cycling".[10][12]
La Course was initially praised for the exposure gained by 'sharing the stage' with the Tour de France, with sponsors welcoming the live TV coverage and visibility of taking place alongside the men's race.[13][14] However, La Course was criticised for being overshadowed by the men's Tour de France, not having enough stages, and not being challenging enough for the professional peloton.[13][15][16] Organisers ASO were also criticised for not doing enough to promote the race.[17] Riders and campaigners pushed for La Course to evolve into a multi-stage race. Cyclist & commentator Joanna Rowsell stated that "We need mountain climbs, flat stages, time trials and a Champs-Elysees finish".[15][16] Pushing back at criticism, ASO stated that logistical issues mean that a men's and women's Tour de France would not be able to be staged simultaneously,[11] and that races must be financially sustainable.[16][18]
In May 2021, ASO announced that they would launch a new women's stage race, Tour de France Femmes.[5] The first edition was be held over 8 days in July 2022, following the 2022 Tour de France. The men's tour director, Christian Prudhomme stated that lessons must be learned from the failure of previous events,[5] with the aim of a financially sustainable event, one "that will still exist in 100 years".[19] The reaction from the professional women's peloton was overwhelmingly positive,[20] with Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen stating "it's long been a dream for many of us to compete in a women's Tour de France"[21] and Danish rider Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig stating "this is a day that we’ve waited for, for a long time".[22]
The 24 teams which participated in the race[23] were announced on 30 March 2022.[24] All 14 UCI Women's WorldTeams were automatically invited. They were joined by 10 UCI Women's Continental Teams: the three best 2021 UCI Women's Continental Teams (Ceratizit–WNT Pro Cycling, Parkhotel Valkenburg and Valcar–Travel & Service) received an automatic invitation, and the other seven teams were selected by Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), the organisers of the Tour. A total of 144 riders from 25 nationalities started the race, with the Netherlands having the largest contingent (29 riders).[23]
UCI Women's WorldTeams
UCI Women's Continental Teams
In October 2021, the route was announced by race director Marion Rousse.[25] It comprised eight consecutive days of racing, covering a total of 1,033 kilometres (642 mi). The race started with a stage on the Champs-ÉlyséesinParis, on the same day as the final stage of the men's tour. The route generally headed eastwards from Paris, including gravel sections in Champagne vineyards on stage 4, stages in the Vosges mountains (including the longest, stage 5), and a summit finish on stage 8 at La Super Planche des Belles Filles in the Vosges.[25] The route was welcomed by the professional peloton and campaigners such as Kathryn Bertine, with praise for the variety of stages.[26][27][28] The overall length of the event was met with agreement, with some teams noting that they do not "yet have the staff or numbers ... for a three-week event."[29]
The route itself required a waiver from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), as Women's WorldTour races have a maximum stage length of 160 kilometres (99 mi) and a maximum race length of six days.[30] The restrictions were criticised by the professional peloton and campaigners as "sexist", as the UCI does not allow women to compete over identical distances as men.[31]
Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Winner | |
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1 | 24 July | Paris: Tour EiffeltoChamps-Élysées | 81.6 km (50.7 mi) | ![]() |
Flat stage | ![]() |
2 | 25 July | MeauxtoProvins | 136.4 km (84.8 mi) | ![]() |
Hilly stage | ![]() |
3 | 26 July | ReimstoÉpernay | 133.6 km (83.0 mi) | ![]() |
Hilly stage | ![]() |
4 | 27 July | TroyestoBar-sur-Aube | 126.8 km (78.8 mi) | ![]() |
Medium-mountain stage | ![]() |
5 | 28 July | Bar-le-DuctoSaint-Dié-des-Vosges | 175.6 km (109.1 mi) | ![]() |
Flat stage | ![]() |
6 | 29 July | Saint-Dié-des-VosgestoRosheim | 129.2 km (80.3 mi) | ![]() |
Hilly stage | ![]() |
7 | 30 July | SélestattoLe Markstein | 127.1 km (79.0 mi) | ![]() |
Mountain stage | ![]() |
8 | 31 July | LuretoLa Super Planche des Belles Filles | 123.3 km (76.6 mi) | ![]() |
Mountain stage | ![]() |
Total | 1,033.6 km (642.2 mi) |
Annemiek van Vleuten, Elisa Longo Borghini, Ashleigh Moolman, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, Marta Cavalli and Katarzyna Niewiadoma were all named as pre-race favourites for the general classification (GC),[32][33] with Lorena Wiebes and Elisa Balsamo tipped for the points classification.[33] The field of 144 was described as "packed with talent",[34] with the top 28 riders in the UCI rankings all taking part.[23]
Media coverage prior to the event was very positive,[35] calling the race a "historic moment for women's cycling"[36] and "game changing".[37] There was some criticism regarding the €250,000 prize fund, compared to the €2.2m prize fund for the men's race.[38] ASO noted that the prize fund was larger than men's races of similar length – such as the Critérium du Dauphiné.[38] Riders from The Cyclists' Alliance – a union representing the female peloton – stated that live TV coverage for races was their biggest priority, rather than prize money.[38][39]
Stage 1 of the tour took place on 24 July in Paris, with a start beneath the Eiffel Tower and eight laps around the Champs-Élysées (on the traditional circuit which concluded the men's tour later that day). In a sprint finish, Wiebes (Team DSM) outsprinted Marianne Vos (Jumbo–Visma) to take the first yellow jersey of the race, as well as the green jersey of the points classification.[40][41] Stage 2 to Provins was marred by multiple crashes in the final 30 kilometres (19 mi), with Cavalli (FDJ Suez Futuroscope) having to abandon the race as a result. Van Vleuten (Movistar Team) also came close to abandoning the race after suffering from a stomach infection and being unable to eat or drink. In the final, Vos outsprinted a small group to take the yellow and green jerseys.[42][43]
Stage 3 took place on rolling terrain, with a final loop into Épernay. On the Côte de Mutigny, seven riders contending for the general classification broke away from the peloton. On the final steep climb to the finish, Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ Suez Futuroscope) outsprinted the group to take the stage while Femke Gerritse (Parkhotel Valkenburg) took the lead in the Queen of the Mountains (QoM) classification.[44][45][46]
Stage 4 to Bar-sur-Aube was another hilly stage, its final half including four gravel sections. Multiple riders including Niewiadoma (Canyon–SRAM), Longo Borghini (Trek–Segafredo), Uttrup Ludwig and van Vleuten suffered punctures and other issues but most of them were able to rejoin the peloton and not lose time. Mavi García (UAE Team ADQ) was hit by her own team car while chasing back after a mechanical, causing her to lose a minute and a half. With around 23 kilometres (14 mi) remaining, Marlen Reusser (SD Worx) attacked, riding solo to win the stage by nearly a minute and a half.[47][48]
Continuing east across France, stage 5 to Saint-Dié-des-Vosges was the longest of the Women's WorldTour calendar at 175.6 kilometres (109.1 mi). With around 45 kilometres (28 mi) left, a crash in the peloton took down several riders, with Emma Norsgaard (Movistar Team) having to abandon. In the final sprint, Wiebes overtook Balsamo and Vos to secure her second stage win. In the GC, Vos kept the yellow jersey, extending her advantage to 20 seconds due to bonuses.[49][50] Stage 6 to Rosheim was a hilly stage, with four categorised climbs and another climb with bonus seconds at the top. On the descent of the penultimate climb, a small group including Wiebes and Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) crashed on the descent, with everyone involved finishing the stage. The early breakaway was caught in the closing kilometres, with the stage win determined by a bunch sprint. Vos outsprinted Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ) and Kopecky to win her second stage of the race. In the GC, Vos extended her advantage due to the ten bonus seconds she gained for the stage win as the race headed towards the mountains.[51][52]
Stages 7 and 8 took place in the Vosges mountains in Grand Est, with five category 1 climbs over the two days, and two summit finishes.[25]
Stage 7 had 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) of vertical climbing including the Grand Ballon, and was considered as the queen stage of the race. On the first climb of the day, Vos was dropped, ensuring that the yellow jersey would change hands at the end of the day. Meanwhile, Wiebes abandoned the race, following her crash on stage 6.[53] On the Petit Bellon, with 86 kilometres (53 mi) remaining, van Vleuten broke away from the peloton with only Demi Vollering (SD Worx) able to match her pace. A chase group with most of the other GC contenders formed behind them. A kilometre (0.6 mi) from the top of the Col du Platzerwasel, the second climb of the day, van Vleuten accelerated ahead of Vollering. Van Vleuten extended her lead to almost four minutes by the final climb of the Grand Ballon. Van Vleuten lost some time to Vollering on the final plateau section, but nevertheless achieved an impressive stage win, 3 min 26 s ahead of Vollering, who took the polka-dot jersey as leader of the QoM. In the GC, van Vleuten took the yellow jersey, more than three minutes ahead of Vollering while Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon–SRAM) rounded out the podium at four and a half minutes down. Despite losing the yellow jersey, Vos continued to hold the green jersey.[54][55]
Stage 8 was the second mountain stage of the Tour, with three categorised climbs. The final climb to La Super Planche des Belles Filles was 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) long with an average gradient of 8.7 percent, with the final kilometre featuring an extended gravel section with gradients as high as 24 percent. On the first climb, no break had been established and Vollering was able to take maximum points to extend her lead in the QoM classification. With 57 kilometres (35 mi) to go, van Vleuten suffered a mechanical and SD Worx and Trek–Segafredo increased the pace of the peloton. Van Vleuten rejoined the peloton at the foot of the second climb, the Ballon d'Alsace. On the climb, van Vleuten made four more bike changes but she quickly made it back to the peloton each time. On the final climb to La Super Planche des Belles Filles, van Vleuten attacked from the peloton with 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) remaining. She passed the remnants of the breakaway with Vollering in pursuit. Much like the previous day, a chase group of GC contenders formed behind them. Van Vleuten gradually extended her lead and won the stage and the Tour title. Vollering finished 30 seconds behind, confirming her win in the QoM classification.[56][57]
In the final general classification, van Vleuten (Movistar Team) won the Tour de France Femmes with an advantage over Vollering (SD Worx) of almost four minutes while Niewiadoma was third at more than six and a half minutes down. Vollering won the mountains classification while Vos (Team Jumbo–Visma) won the points classification and the super-combativity award. Shirin van Anrooij (Trek–Segafredo) won the young rider classification. The team classification was won by Canyon–SRAM as the team with the lowest aggregate time among their three best-placed riders.[56][57] Out of 144 starters, 109 finished the event.[58]
Worldwide media coverage praised the event,[59][60] with CNN calling the race a "rebirth",[61] Cycling Weekly stating that the race was a "huge step for the women's sport",[62] and L'Équipe stating that people came to see "the Tour de France without making the slightest distinction between men and women".[63] Race director Marion Rousse stated that "it's a proper Tour de France, with the caravan, the crowds, placards, flags"[64] and Le Tour Entier co-founder Kathryn Bertine called it a "wonderful edition".[65]
Riders also praised the event, with Niewiadoma noting it was one of the most difficult races that the women's peloton has taken part in,[66] and fourth-place overall Juliette Labous (Team DSM) explained that she was surprised by the large crowds, stating "I didn't expect this much, I knew there would be a lot of people but I didn't expect as much as this."[67]
Future improvements to the race were also discussed,[59] including increasing the riders in each team,[68] more days of racing (including an individual time trial and stages in the AlpsorPyrenees mountains),[68][69] and increased sponsorship.[70] It was also noted that work was still required to improve the competitive depth and "economic model" of the women's peloton,[70][68] with L'Équipe referencing the "enormous difference in level between the ... runners-up and the rest of the peloton".[71]
The 2023 edition of the race subsequently featured both an individual time trial and mountain stages in the Pyrenees,[72] with the 2024 edition of the race set to visit the Alps.[73]
Stage | Winner | General classification![]() |
Points classification![]() |
Mountains classification![]() |
Young rider classification![]() |
Team classification![]() |
Combativity award![]() |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lorena Wiebes | Lorena Wiebes | Lorena Wiebes[a] | Femke Markus | Maike van der Duin | Canyon–SRAM | Gladys Verhulst |
2 | Marianne Vos | Marianne Vos | Marianne Vos[b] | Maike van der Duin | |||
3 | Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig | Femke Gerritse | Julie De Wilde | Alena Amialiusik | |||
4 | Marlen Reusser | SD Worx | Marlen Reusser | ||||
5 | Lorena Wiebes | Victoire Berteau | |||||
6 | Marianne Vos | Julia Borgström | Marie Le Net | ||||
7 | Annemiek van Vleuten | Annemiek van Vleuten | Demi Vollering | Shirin van Anrooij | Canyon–SRAM | Annemiek van Vleuten | |
8 | Annemiek van Vleuten | Mavi García | |||||
Final | Annemiek van Vleuten | Marianne Vos | Demi Vollering | Shirin van Anrooij | Canyon–SRAM | Marianne Vos |
Legend | |||
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![]() |
Denotes the leader of the General classification | ![]() |
Denotes the leader of the Mountains classification |
![]() |
Denotes the leader of the Points classification | ![]() |
Denotes the leader of the Young rider (under 23) classification |
![]() |
Denotes the leader of the Team classification | ![]() |
Denotes the winner of the Combativity award |
Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() ![]() |
Movistar Team | 26 h 55 min 44 s |
2 | ![]() ![]() |
SD Worx | + 3 min 48 s |
3 | ![]() ![]() |
Canyon–SRAM | + 6 min 35 s |
4 | ![]() |
Team DSM | + 7 min 28 s |
5 | ![]() |
Valcar–Travel & Service | + 8 min 00 s |
6 | ![]() |
Trek–Segafredo | + 8 min 26 s |
7 | ![]() |
FDJ Suez Futuroscope | + 8 min 59 s |
8 | ![]() |
FDJ Suez Futuroscope | + 13 min 54 s |
9 | ![]() |
EF Education–Tibco–SVB | + 15 min 05 s |
10 | ![]() |
UAE Team ADQ | + 15 min 15 s |
Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Team Jumbo–Visma | 272 |
2 | ![]() |
SD Worx | 174 |
3 | ![]() |
Ceratizit–WNT Pro Cycling | 127 |
4 | ![]() |
Valcar–Travel & Service | 106 |
5 | ![]() ![]() |
SD Worx | 104 |
6 | ![]() |
Trek–Segafredo | 104 |
7 | ![]() ![]() |
Canyon–SRAM | 97 |
8 | ![]() |
Trek–Segafredo | 85 |
9 | ![]() |
FDJ Suez Futuroscope | 77 |
10 | ![]() ![]() |
Movistar Team | 76 |
Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() ![]() |
SD Worx | 42 |
2 | ![]() ![]() |
Movistar Team | 38 |
3 | ![]() ![]() |
Canyon–SRAM | 15 |
4 | ![]() |
Trek–Segafredo | 14 |
5 | ![]() |
UAE Team ADQ | 11 |
6 | ![]() ![]() |
Canyon–SRAM | 11 |
7 | ![]() |
FDJ Suez Futuroscope | 10 |
8 | ![]() |
Parkhotel Valkenburg | 9 |
9 | ![]() |
Valcar–Travel & Service | 8 |
10 | ![]() |
Team DSM | 6 |
Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() ![]() |
Trek–Segafredo | 27 h 21 min 34 s |
2 | ![]() |
Parkhotel Valkenburg | + 5 min 41 s |
3 | ![]() |
AG Insurance–NXTG | + 16 min 43 s |
4 | ![]() |
FDJ Suez Futuroscope | + 23 min 48 s |
5 | ![]() |
FDJ Suez Futuroscope | + 27 min 35 s |
6 | ![]() |
Plantur–Pura | + 28 min 14 s |
7 | ![]() |
Team DSM | + 31 min 54 s |
8 | ![]() |
EF Education–Tibco–SVB | + 38 min 29 s |
9 | ![]() |
Human Powered Health | + 35 min 14 s |
10 | ![]() |
Cofidis | + 38 min 54 s |
Rank | Team | Time |
---|---|---|
1 | Canyon–SRAM ![]() |
81 h 27 min 09 s |
2 | FDJ Suez Futuroscope | + 14 min 19 s |
3 | Trek–Segafredo | + 24 min 34 s |
4 | SD Worx | + 32 min 09 s |
5 | Movistar Team | + 33 min 24 s |
6 | Team BikeExchange–Jayco | + 52 min 32 s |
7 | Team DSM | + 54 min 59 s |
8 | Team Jumbo–Visma | + 58 min 00 s |
9 | UAE Team ADQ | + 1 h 00 min 59 s |
10 | EF Education–Tibco–SVB | + 1 h 15 min 37 s |
Live television coverage was provided by France Télévisions in conjunction with the European Broadcasting Union.[77][78] There was over 22 hours of live coverage over the 8 stages,[79] with some viewers requesting that live TV coverage be expanded to encompass the entire length of the stage.[80] The race was broadcast around the world, including on NBC's Peacock in the United States,[81]onEurosport across Europe and by a variety of national broadcasters such as France 3, RTVE and SBS.[82]
Following the event, broadcasters reported high viewing figures, with a cumulative live audience of 23.2 million.[83][84] In France, France 3 reported an average of 2.25 million viewers over the eight stages (an 26% audience share), and a peak of 5.1 million watching the final part of stage 8 (a 45% audience share).[79][85] This is just under half the audience of the men's tour.[85] In the Netherlands, a 45% audience share was reported at peak times.[85] Eurosport reported a reach of over 14 million across Europe.[79] France Télévisions commented that the audience figures were a good surprise, and that they were "a very solid basis on which the world of cycling will be able to build".[86]
Jacques Anquetil, a cycling commentator for the sports daily L'Equipe, and a five-time Tour de France winner, wrote, "I have absolutely nothing against women's sports, but cycling is much too difficult for a woman ... I prefer to see a woman in a short white skirt, not racing shorts.
"There are only four stages this year, so it's more of a Petite Boucle than Grande!" joked Pooley
More than 93,000 have signed a petition by the group, led by cyclist and writer Kathryn Bertine, World Ironman champion Chrissie Wellington, and cyclists Marianne Vos and Emma Pooley.
Prior to the 2017 race, ASO technical director Thierry Gouvenou said that holding the event alongside the men's race was a positive, due to the increase in crowds and media. "It is the best way to shine a light on female cycling,"
Retired cyclist Joanna Rowsell Shand ... advocated expanding the race to a multiday event, more like the men's race, to even out the playing field and make things more competitive. "It's good that we've got prime-time TV on the last Saturday of the Tour de France, but we do need a proper stage race. We need mountain climbs, flat stages, time trials and a Champs-Elysees finish,"
"The goal is to organise a race that will stay, that will still exist in 100 years, that I can watch when I'm old and using a walker," the 60-year-old Prudhomme said.
"It's long been a dream for many of us to compete in a women's Tour de France," Anna van der Breggen observes, the UCI World Champion highlighting the announcement as "a huge moment for professional women's cycling".
Uttrup Ludwig echoed Moolman Pasio's comments in relation to the importance of the new race. "I'm so excited. I mean this is a day that we've waited for, for a long time.
Some big names have praised the variety that the course will offer.
First, it's a huge victory; we finally have a Tour de France Femmes. We need to celebrate these eight days.
While there was initially criticism regarding the length of the event, the general consensus in the peloton appears to be that this is a good place to start, and that the women's WorldTour field does not yet have the staff or numbers to field teams for a 3-week event.
We need to pay attention to the underlying sexism: UCI and ASO still uphold the belief that women cannot complete the same distance as men, and are therefore regulated to shorter distances.
I think if you asked everyone in the peloton what's more important, the prize money or the TV coverage, I think most would say TV coverage.
the rebirth edition of the Tour de France Femmes
Huge crowds, excellent organisation, a good route and plenty of press attention, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is a huge step for the women's sport
Le pari d'attirer l'attention sur cette nouvelle épreuve est réussi, le public a été fidèle au Tour de France femmes au-delà des prévisions. Les camping-caristes des trois semaines du Tour masculin ont poursuivi l'aventure durant ces sept journées supplémentaires, et ont rencontré un autre public venu voir passer le Tour de France sans faire la moindre distinction entre les hommes et les femmes.[The challenge of attracting attention to this new event was successful, the public was loyal to the Women's Tour de France beyond predictions. The campervans of the three weeks of the Men's Tour continued the adventure during these seven additional days, and met another public who had come to watch the Tour de France pass without making the slightest distinction between men and women.]
And even though it's the first year, it's a proper Tour de France, with the caravan, the crowds, placards, flags – it's great.
Fourth overall, DSM's Juliette Labous was France's top placed rider on GC and has been surprised by the reception. "I didn't expect this much, I knew there would be a lot of people but I didn't expect as much as this,"
S'il ne faut pas sous-estimer la performance d'Annemiek van Vleuten, on savait déjà que la Néerlandaise était au-dessus du lot. L'énorme différence de niveau entre le groupe réduit de ses dauphines et le reste du peloton n'a pas permis d'assister à de véritables passes d'armes.[While Annemiek van Vleuten's performance should not be underestimated, we already knew that the Dutchwoman was above the rest. The enormous difference in level between the small group of runners-up and the rest of the peloton did not allow us to witness any real battles.]
Some viewers have even called for coverage to be shown from kilometre zero like the men's race instead of picking up the action later in the stage.
«C'est une belle surprise d'audience», a indiqué à l'AFP Laurent-Eric Le Lay, directeur des sports de France Télévisions. «C'était un véritable test, et c'est une base très solide sur laquelle le monde du cyclisme va pouvoir construire».[It's a nice audience surprise," Laurent-Eric Le Lay, sports director of France Télévisions, told AFP. "It was a real test, and it is a very solid basis on which the world of cycling will be able to build.]
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