{"id":2086943,"date":"2026-08-10T10:55:34","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T07:55:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2086943"},"modified":"2026-08-10T10:55:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T07:55:34","slug":"we-can-make-the-race-harder-but-do-we-want-to-tour-de-france-femmes-director-marion-rousse-backs-variety-over-difficulty-for-future-route-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2086943","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;We can make the race harder, but do we want to?&#8217; Tour de France Femmes director Marion Rousse backs variety over difficulty for future route design"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-1024-80.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none upnext-article-divider\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 1 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/frgQgQycsEACibWhoDgaCd-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/frgQgQycsEACibWhoDgaCd-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-4 h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">1<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    &#8216;Salaries are being paid that defy all logic&#8217; \u2013 As the Tour de France Femmes booms, there are warnings about the economics of women&#8217;s cycling\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none upnext-article-divider\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 2 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6NUEeJiePnSET8EhXxbGTD-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6NUEeJiePnSET8EhXxbGTD-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-[18px] h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">2<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    &#8216;I felt stronger than in any other editions&#8217; \u2013 Why Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney can celebrate second at the Tour de France Femmes as much as her 2024 win\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 3 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YbJTLfrS6PRMEczmLr7cGN-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YbJTLfrS6PRMEczmLr7cGN-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-[18px] h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">3<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    &#8216;I really should have closed the gap straight away&#8217; \u2013 Demi Vollering harbours Mont Ventoux regrets as Niewiadoma-Phinney soars into Tour de France Femmes lead\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRacing\n<\/li>\n<li>\nWomen&#8217;s Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRoad\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;We can make the race harder, but do we want to?&#8217; Tour de France Femmes director Marion Rousse backs variety over difficulty for future route design<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>News<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nAlasdair Fotheringham <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-08-10T10:55:34Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n10 August 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">&#8216;The race now forms part of people&#8217;s daily lives&#8217; says race director after success of new format of one-week separation from men&#8217;s Tour<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-1024-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-1024-80.jpg.webp 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-750-80.jpg.webp 750w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"font-article-copy text-(--image--text--color) font-article-copy mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text font-article-copy\">2026 Tour de France Femmes: race director Marion Rousse during the last stage<\/span><span class=\"credit font-article-copy\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-276b6d84-94a3-11f1-a7dc-274ed49ed6d1\">Tour de France Femmes director Marion Rousse has pushed back against the idea that future race routes will automatically be harder than previous editions, pointing out that the 2026 Tour benefited enormously from having a wide variety of stages.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to French media as the 2026 race drew to a close in Nice, in comments reported by <em>Ouest-France<\/em>, Rousse reminded journalists that the diversity of stages in this year&#8217;s edition had helped make for an exceptionally entertaining race to watch.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-276b6d84-94a3-11f1-a7dc-274ed49ed6d1-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">She also pointed out that organisers&#8217; tendency to make races as hard as possible tempts riders to play it conservatively and to wait for the final climb on ultra-difficult mountainous stages, rather than taking bigger risks.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand\">Cyclingnews<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I don&#8217;t favour constantly raising the level of difficulty, but that&#8217;s a personal point of view.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I&#8217;ve had experience as a TV media analyst and sometimes, when it&#8217;s too tough, that kills off the suspense because riders just look at each other until the last climb.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Tz94Pr3J9LqdLHNpiXsiEe-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Tz94Pr3J9LqdLHNpiXsiEe-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;The race has now grown so much&#8217; \u2013 Tour de France Femmes director explains change of dates for 2026 edition<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Extending it to two weeks would be a great step&#8217; \u2013 France&#8217;s lone Tour de France Femmes success story C\u00e9drine Kerbaol excited for race&#8217;s future expansion<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HXsHrWNTJvCPvDShtGiLH3-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HXsHrWNTJvCPvDShtGiLH3-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Things are moving in the right direction&#8217; \u2013 Tour de France Femmes director Marion Rousse says full-length TV broadcasts of stages are under consideration for future editions<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;We try to vary the types of stages and we had a great stage in the Beaujolais&#8221; &#8211; where Demi Vollering took her first stage win in a sprint against Marlen Reusser (Movistar) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) &#8211; &#8220;and on Saturday [stage 8], by putting two &#8216;walls&#8217; in the final, it felt like we were seeing a Classic.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;We can make the race harder, but do we want to? Not necessarily.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-zYbww5wc8swBEZ97huip29\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-zYbww5wc8swBEZ97huip29 slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">As for this year&#8217;s race, Rousse felt that riders exploited the terrain that had been offered them to the full, to make for a very exciting event from start to finish.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Every day, something happened,&#8221; she pointed out.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"helping-young-girls-have-an-opportunity-to-dream-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8216;Helping young girls have an opportunity to dream&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-03750ed8-94aa-11f1-b534-139b36291df0\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">One of the biggest downsides for French cycling was that Pauline Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot (Visma-Lease a Bike) was well off the pace, despite working hard to make that possible.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Eight things we learnt from a spellbinding edition of the Tour de France Femmes<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ePxGEBDAcx43r8MiDvwGvn-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ePxGEBDAcx43r8MiDvwGvn-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Five years in, this Tour de France Femmes looks like it will be the best edition yet<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZLhTWBqryzGHCk2dKSRmye-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZLhTWBqryzGHCk2dKSRmye-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Pauline will be on the same level or better; we are only focused on ourselves&#8217; \u2013 Inside FDJ United-Suez and Demi Vollering&#8217;s preparation, mindset and ambitions for the Tour de France Femmes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;She trained like she had to, but she wasn&#8217;t up there,&#8221; Rousse said, &#8220;but that doesn&#8217;t mean she won&#8217;t be back in the future, fighting for the top spot overall.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I&#8217;m in a good place to know that in the life of a top athlete, from one year to the next, things can stop working so well. I hope people won&#8217;t forget her palmares and what we&#8217;ll be able to see in the future [in races] thanks to her as well.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;She&#8217;s the first person to feel disappointed not to be there at 100%. But she was there at the starts and finishes every day and that meant a lot to people, too.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Rousse said there had been concern over how the race could play out in terms of viewer interest, given this was the first time in its modern history that the end of the men&#8217;s Tour de France and the start of the Tour de France Femmes had been separated by a week. But that calendar switch had worked out well and as a cumulative effect of its impact and success, &#8220;the race now forms part of people&#8217;s daily lives.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">On top of that she argued, the Tour de France Femmes had become a focus point to help &#8220;young girls dream if they take out a racing licence, or help them to identify with top feminine stars. It&#8217;s very important for us.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;When I started racing aged 6, I couldn&#8217;t help but identify with the men, because that was all you saw on TV.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Helping young girls have an opportunity to dream, and not just about getting on a bike, is a very good goal to have, and that&#8217;s why I&#8217;m proud to be the race director. On a broader level, this is about how women take part in sport.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-7f5c2a4e-94a6-11f1-bba6-01926c01ad34\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><em><strong>Support our unrivalled coverage of the Tour de France Femmes and women&#8217;s cycling by subscribing to Cyclingnews. In return, you get unlimited access to high-quality journalism, with breaking news, race analysis, and expert insight from inside the women&#8217;s peloton. Plus, the Cyclingnews app lets you follow the action wherever you go! <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Join today.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block mb-5\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<div class=\"border-b border-b-black border-solid py-2.5 text-black font-bold uppercase\">TOPICS<\/div>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<p>Tour de France Femmes<\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-zYbww5wc8swBEZ97huip29\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-zYbww5wc8swBEZ97huip29 slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">Alasdair Fotheringham<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__social\">\n<nav class=\"button-social-group author__social-buttons\" aria-labelledby=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">\n<div id=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">Social Links Navigation<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>, he has also written for <em>The Independent<\/em>,\u00a0 <em>The Guardian<\/em>,\u00a0 <em>ProCycling<\/em>, <em>The Express<\/em> and <em>Reuters<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"relative max-w-[1070px] viafoura-twig-component mt-6 mx-4 lg:mx-0\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class=&apos;vfcustom-community-guidelines&apos;&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1 rounded-b-[var(--comment-widget-border-radius,0)]\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-lg!\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-sm!\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Tz94Pr3J9LqdLHNpiXsiEe-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Tz94Pr3J9LqdLHNpiXsiEe-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Tz94Pr3J9LqdLHNpiXsiEe-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Tz94Pr3J9LqdLHNpiXsiEe-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Tz94Pr3J9LqdLHNpiXsiEe-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s cycling (races)<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;The race has now grown so much&#8217; \u2013 Tour de France Femmes director explains change of dates for 2026 edition<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Extending it to two weeks would be a great step&#8217; \u2013 France&#8217;s lone Tour de France Femmes success story C\u00e9drine Kerbaol excited for race&#8217;s future expansion<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HXsHrWNTJvCPvDShtGiLH3-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HXsHrWNTJvCPvDShtGiLH3-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HXsHrWNTJvCPvDShtGiLH3-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HXsHrWNTJvCPvDShtGiLH3-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HXsHrWNTJvCPvDShtGiLH3-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s cycling (races)<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Things are moving in the right direction&#8217; \u2013 Tour de France Femmes director Marion Rousse says full-length TV broadcasts of stages are under consideration for future editions<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Eight things we learnt from a spellbinding edition of the Tour de France Femmes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ePxGEBDAcx43r8MiDvwGvn-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ePxGEBDAcx43r8MiDvwGvn-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ePxGEBDAcx43r8MiDvwGvn-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ePxGEBDAcx43r8MiDvwGvn-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ePxGEBDAcx43r8MiDvwGvn-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Five years in, this Tour de France Femmes looks like it will be the best edition yet<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZLhTWBqryzGHCk2dKSRmye-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZLhTWBqryzGHCk2dKSRmye-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZLhTWBqryzGHCk2dKSRmye-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZLhTWBqryzGHCk2dKSRmye-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZLhTWBqryzGHCk2dKSRmye-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Pauline will be on the same level or better; we are only focused on ourselves&#8217; \u2013 Inside FDJ United-Suez and Demi Vollering&#8217;s preparation, mindset and ambitions for the Tour de France Femmes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Nicole Frain wins seventh race of season at Heathland Gravel, while fellow Australian sets FKT on Icelandic Divide &#8211; Gravel Bits<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Extending it to two weeks would be a great step&#8217; \u2013 France&#8217;s lone Tour de France Femmes success story C\u00e9drine Kerbaol excited for race&#8217;s future expansion<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Demi Vollering and FDJ the top earners as one team leaves penniless \u2013 Tour de France Femmes prize money wrapped<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Eight things we learnt from a spellbinding edition of the Tour de France Femmes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">In Antonia Niedermaier, Canyon-SRAM have created the perfect successor to Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;You never should think you&#8217;re &#8216;there&#8221; \u2013 Demi Vollering at her best and still improving with second Tour de France Femmes victory<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in News<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;My ambition is to become a consistent winner&#8217; &#8211; Pavel Bittner takes his talents to Pinarello-Q36.5 for next two seasons<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Nicole Frain wins seventh race of season at Heathland Gravel, while fellow Australian sets FKT on Icelandic Divide &#8211; Gravel Bits<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Extending it to two weeks would be a great step&#8217; \u2013 France&#8217;s lone Tour de France Femmes success story C\u00e9drine Kerbaol excited for race&#8217;s future expansion<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Demi Vollering and FDJ the top earners as one team leaves penniless \u2013 Tour de France Femmes prize money wrapped<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">In Antonia Niedermaier, Canyon-SRAM have created the perfect successor to Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;You never should think you&#8217;re &#8216;there&#8221; \u2013 Demi Vollering at her best and still improving with second Tour de France Femmes victory<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice\">\n<section class=\"popular-box\" data-component-name=\"Slice:PopularBox\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">\nLATEST ARTICLES\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div>\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"99vw\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>&#8216;My ambition is to become a consistent winner&#8217; &#8211; Pavel Bittner takes his talents to Pinarello-Q36.5 for next two seasons<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Volta a Portugal: Julius Johansen wins stage 5 time trial for second victory the race<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Parent company of Lapierre and Raleigh initiates insolvency proceedings, putting major brands at risk<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Nicole Frain wins seventh race of season at Heathland Gravel, while fellow Australian sets FKT on Icelandic Divide &#8211; Gravel Bits<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>&#8216;Extending it to two weeks would be a great step&#8217; \u2013 France&#8217;s lone Tour de France Femmes success story C\u00e9drine Kerbaol excited for race&#8217;s future expansion<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRacing\n<\/li>\n<li>\nWomen&#8217;s Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRoad\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;We can make the race harder, but do we want to?&#8217; Tour de France Femmes director Marion Rousse backs variety over difficulty for future route design<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>News<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nAlasdair Fotheringham <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-08-10T10:55:34Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n10 August 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">&#8216;The race now forms part of people&#8217;s daily lives&#8217; says race director after success of new format of one-week separation from men&#8217;s Tour<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-1024-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-1024-80.jpg.webp 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-750-80.jpg.webp 750w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"font-article-copy text-(--image--text--color) font-article-copy mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text font-article-copy\">2026 Tour de France Femmes: race director Marion Rousse during the last stage<\/span><span class=\"credit font-article-copy\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-276b6d84-94a3-11f1-a7dc-274ed49ed6d1\">Tour de France Femmes director Marion Rousse has pushed back against the idea that future race routes will automatically be harder than previous editions, pointing out that the 2026 Tour benefited enormously from having a wide variety of stages.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to French media as the 2026 race drew to a close in Nice, in comments reported by <em>Ouest-France<\/em>, Rousse reminded journalists that the diversity of stages in this year&#8217;s edition had helped make for an exceptionally entertaining race to watch.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-276b6d84-94a3-11f1-a7dc-274ed49ed6d1-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">She also pointed out that organisers&#8217; tendency to make races as hard as possible tempts riders to play it conservatively and to wait for the final climb on ultra-difficult mountainous stages, rather than taking bigger risks.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand\">Cyclingnews<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I don&#8217;t favour constantly raising the level of difficulty, but that&#8217;s a personal point of view.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I&#8217;ve had experience as a TV media analyst and sometimes, when it&#8217;s too tough, that kills off the suspense because riders just look at each other until the last climb.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Tz94Pr3J9LqdLHNpiXsiEe-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Tz94Pr3J9LqdLHNpiXsiEe-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;The race has now grown so much&#8217; \u2013 Tour de France Femmes director explains change of dates for 2026 edition<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Extending it to two weeks would be a great step&#8217; \u2013 France&#8217;s lone Tour de France Femmes success story C\u00e9drine Kerbaol excited for race&#8217;s future expansion<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HXsHrWNTJvCPvDShtGiLH3-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HXsHrWNTJvCPvDShtGiLH3-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Things are moving in the right direction&#8217; \u2013 Tour de France Femmes director Marion Rousse says full-length TV broadcasts of stages are under consideration for future editions<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;We try to vary the types of stages and we had a great stage in the Beaujolais&#8221; &#8211; where Demi Vollering took her first stage win in a sprint against Marlen Reusser (Movistar) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) &#8211; &#8220;and on Saturday [stage 8], by putting two &#8216;walls&#8217; in the final, it felt like we were seeing a Classic.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;We can make the race harder, but do we want to? Not necessarily.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-zYbww5wc8swBEZ97huip29\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-zYbww5wc8swBEZ97huip29 slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">As for this year&#8217;s race, Rousse felt that riders exploited the terrain that had been offered them to the full, to make for a very exciting event from start to finish.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Every day, something happened,&#8221; she pointed out.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"helping-young-girls-have-an-opportunity-to-dream-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8216;Helping young girls have an opportunity to dream&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-03750ed8-94aa-11f1-b534-139b36291df0\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">One of the biggest downsides for French cycling was that Pauline Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot (Visma-Lease a Bike) was well off the pace, despite working hard to make that possible.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Eight things we learnt from a spellbinding edition of the Tour de France Femmes<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ePxGEBDAcx43r8MiDvwGvn-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ePxGEBDAcx43r8MiDvwGvn-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Five years in, this Tour de France Femmes looks like it will be the best edition yet<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZLhTWBqryzGHCk2dKSRmye-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZLhTWBqryzGHCk2dKSRmye-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Pauline will be on the same level or better; we are only focused on ourselves&#8217; \u2013 Inside FDJ United-Suez and Demi Vollering&#8217;s preparation, mindset and ambitions for the Tour de France Femmes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;She trained like she had to, but she wasn&#8217;t up there,&#8221; Rousse said, &#8220;but that doesn&#8217;t mean she won&#8217;t be back in the future, fighting for the top spot overall.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I&#8217;m in a good place to know that in the life of a top athlete, from one year to the next, things can stop working so well. I hope people won&#8217;t forget her palmares and what we&#8217;ll be able to see in the future [in races] thanks to her as well.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;She&#8217;s the first person to feel disappointed not to be there at 100%. But she was there at the starts and finishes every day and that meant a lot to people, too.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Rousse said there had been concern over how the race could play out in terms of viewer interest, given this was the first time in its modern history that the end of the men&#8217;s Tour de France and the start of the Tour de France Femmes had been separated by a week. But that calendar switch had worked out well and as a cumulative effect of its impact and success, &#8220;the race now forms part of people&#8217;s daily lives.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">On top of that she argued, the Tour de France Femmes had become a focus point to help &#8220;young girls dream if they take out a racing licence, or help them to identify with top feminine stars. It&#8217;s very important for us.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;When I started racing aged 6, I couldn&#8217;t help but identify with the men, because that was all you saw on TV.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Helping young girls have an opportunity to dream, and not just about getting on a bike, is a very good goal to have, and that&#8217;s why I&#8217;m proud to be the race director. On a broader level, this is about how women take part in sport.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-7f5c2a4e-94a6-11f1-bba6-01926c01ad34\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><em><strong>Support our unrivalled coverage of the Tour de France Femmes and women&#8217;s cycling by subscribing to Cyclingnews. In return, you get unlimited access to high-quality journalism, with breaking news, race analysis, and expert insight from inside the women&#8217;s peloton. Plus, the Cyclingnews app lets you follow the action wherever you go! <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Join today.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block mb-5\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<div class=\"border-b border-b-black border-solid py-2.5 text-black font-bold uppercase\">TOPICS<\/div>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<p>Tour de France Femmes<\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-zYbww5wc8swBEZ97huip29\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-zYbww5wc8swBEZ97huip29 slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">Alasdair Fotheringham<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__social\">\n<nav class=\"button-social-group author__social-buttons\" aria-labelledby=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">\n<div id=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">Social Links Navigation<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>, he has also written for <em>The Independent<\/em>,\u00a0 <em>The Guardian<\/em>,\u00a0 <em>ProCycling<\/em>, <em>The Express<\/em> and <em>Reuters<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"relative max-w-[1070px] viafoura-twig-component mt-6 mx-4 lg:mx-0\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class=&apos;vfcustom-community-guidelines&apos;&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1 rounded-b-[var(--comment-widget-border-radius,0)]\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-lg!\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-sm!\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Tz94Pr3J9LqdLHNpiXsiEe-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Tz94Pr3J9LqdLHNpiXsiEe-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Tz94Pr3J9LqdLHNpiXsiEe-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Tz94Pr3J9LqdLHNpiXsiEe-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Tz94Pr3J9LqdLHNpiXsiEe-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s cycling (races)<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;The race has now grown so much&#8217; \u2013 Tour de France Femmes director explains change of dates for 2026 edition<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Extending it to two weeks would be a great step&#8217; \u2013 France&#8217;s lone Tour de France Femmes success story C\u00e9drine Kerbaol excited for race&#8217;s future expansion<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HXsHrWNTJvCPvDShtGiLH3-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HXsHrWNTJvCPvDShtGiLH3-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HXsHrWNTJvCPvDShtGiLH3-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HXsHrWNTJvCPvDShtGiLH3-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HXsHrWNTJvCPvDShtGiLH3-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s cycling (races)<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Things are moving in the right direction&#8217; \u2013 Tour de France Femmes director Marion Rousse says full-length TV broadcasts of stages are under consideration for future editions<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Eight things we learnt from a spellbinding edition of the Tour de France Femmes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ePxGEBDAcx43r8MiDvwGvn-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ePxGEBDAcx43r8MiDvwGvn-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ePxGEBDAcx43r8MiDvwGvn-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ePxGEBDAcx43r8MiDvwGvn-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ePxGEBDAcx43r8MiDvwGvn-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Five years in, this Tour de France Femmes looks like it will be the best edition yet<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZLhTWBqryzGHCk2dKSRmye-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZLhTWBqryzGHCk2dKSRmye-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZLhTWBqryzGHCk2dKSRmye-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZLhTWBqryzGHCk2dKSRmye-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZLhTWBqryzGHCk2dKSRmye-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Pauline will be on the same level or better; we are only focused on ourselves&#8217; \u2013 Inside FDJ United-Suez and Demi Vollering&#8217;s preparation, mindset and ambitions for the Tour de France Femmes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Nicole Frain wins seventh race of season at Heathland Gravel, while fellow Australian sets FKT on Icelandic Divide &#8211; Gravel Bits<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Extending it to two weeks would be a great step&#8217; \u2013 France&#8217;s lone Tour de France Femmes success story C\u00e9drine Kerbaol excited for race&#8217;s future expansion<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Demi Vollering and FDJ the top earners as one team leaves penniless \u2013 Tour de France Femmes prize money wrapped<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Eight things we learnt from a spellbinding edition of the Tour de France Femmes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">In Antonia Niedermaier, Canyon-SRAM have created the perfect successor to Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;You never should think you&#8217;re &#8216;there&#8221; \u2013 Demi Vollering at her best and still improving with second Tour de France Femmes victory<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in News<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;My ambition is to become a consistent winner&#8217; &#8211; Pavel Bittner takes his talents to Pinarello-Q36.5 for next two seasons<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Nicole Frain wins seventh race of season at Heathland Gravel, while fellow Australian sets FKT on Icelandic Divide &#8211; Gravel Bits<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Extending it to two weeks would be a great step&#8217; \u2013 France&#8217;s lone Tour de France Femmes success story C\u00e9drine Kerbaol excited for race&#8217;s future expansion<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Demi Vollering and FDJ the top earners as one team leaves penniless \u2013 Tour de France Femmes prize money wrapped<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">In Antonia Niedermaier, Canyon-SRAM have created the perfect successor to Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;You never should think you&#8217;re &#8216;there&#8221; \u2013 Demi Vollering at her best and still improving with second Tour de France Femmes victory<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice\">\n<section class=\"popular-box\" data-component-name=\"Slice:PopularBox\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">\nLATEST ARTICLES\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div>\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"99vw\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>&#8216;My ambition is to become a consistent winner&#8217; &#8211; Pavel Bittner takes his talents to Pinarello-Q36.5 for next two seasons<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Volta a Portugal: Julius Johansen wins stage 5 time trial for second victory the race<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Parent company of Lapierre and Raleigh initiates insolvency proceedings, putting major brands at risk<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Nicole Frain wins seventh race of season at Heathland Gravel, while fellow Australian sets FKT on Icelandic Divide &#8211; Gravel Bits<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>&#8216;Extending it to two weeks would be a great step&#8217; \u2013 France&#8217;s lone Tour de France Femmes success story C\u00e9drine Kerbaol excited for race&#8217;s future expansion<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRacing\n<\/li>\n<li>\nWomen&#8217;s Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRoad\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;We can make the race harder, but do we want to?&#8217; Tour de France Femmes director Marion Rousse backs variety over difficulty for future route design<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>News<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nAlasdair Fotheringham <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-08-10T10:55:34Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n10 August 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">&#8216;The race now forms part of people&#8217;s daily lives&#8217; says race director after success of new format of one-week separation from men&#8217;s Tour<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-276b6d84-94a3-11f1-a7dc-274ed49ed6d1\">Tour de France Femmes director Marion Rousse has pushed back against the idea that future race routes will automatically be harder than previous editions, pointing out that the 2026 Tour benefited enormously from having a wide variety of stages.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to French media as the 2026 race drew to a close in Nice, in comments reported by <em>Ouest-France<\/em>, Rousse reminded journalists that the diversity of stages in this year&#8217;s edition had helped make for an exceptionally entertaining race to watch.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-276b6d84-94a3-11f1-a7dc-274ed49ed6d1-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">She also pointed out that organisers&#8217; tendency to make races as hard as possible tempts riders to play it conservatively and to wait for the final climb on ultra-difficult mountainous stages, rather than taking bigger risks.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand\">Cyclingnews<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I don&#8217;t favour constantly raising the level of difficulty, but that&#8217;s a personal point of view.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I&#8217;ve had experience as a TV media analyst and sometimes, when it&#8217;s too tough, that kills off the suspense because riders just look at each other until the last climb.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Tz94Pr3J9LqdLHNpiXsiEe-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Tz94Pr3J9LqdLHNpiXsiEe-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;The race has now grown so much&#8217; \u2013 Tour de France Femmes director explains change of dates for 2026 edition<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Extending it to two weeks would be a great step&#8217; \u2013 France&#8217;s lone Tour de France Femmes success story C\u00e9drine Kerbaol excited for race&#8217;s future expansion<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HXsHrWNTJvCPvDShtGiLH3-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HXsHrWNTJvCPvDShtGiLH3-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Things are moving in the right direction&#8217; \u2013 Tour de France Femmes director Marion Rousse says full-length TV broadcasts of stages are under consideration for future editions<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;We try to vary the types of stages and we had a great stage in the Beaujolais&#8221; &#8211; where Demi Vollering took her first stage win in a sprint against Marlen Reusser (Movistar) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) &#8211; &#8220;and on Saturday [stage 8], by putting two &#8216;walls&#8217; in the final, it felt like we were seeing a Classic.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;We can make the race harder, but do we want to? Not necessarily.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-zYbww5wc8swBEZ97huip29\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-zYbww5wc8swBEZ97huip29 slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">As for this year&#8217;s race, Rousse felt that riders exploited the terrain that had been offered them to the full, to make for a very exciting event from start to finish.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Every day, something happened,&#8221; she pointed out.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"helping-young-girls-have-an-opportunity-to-dream-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8216;Helping young girls have an opportunity to dream&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-03750ed8-94aa-11f1-b534-139b36291df0\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">One of the biggest downsides for French cycling was that Pauline Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot (Visma-Lease a Bike) was well off the pace, despite working hard to make that possible.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Eight things we learnt from a spellbinding edition of the Tour de France Femmes<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ePxGEBDAcx43r8MiDvwGvn-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ePxGEBDAcx43r8MiDvwGvn-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Five years in, this Tour de France Femmes looks like it will be the best edition yet<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZLhTWBqryzGHCk2dKSRmye-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZLhTWBqryzGHCk2dKSRmye-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Pauline will be on the same level or better; we are only focused on ourselves&#8217; \u2013 Inside FDJ United-Suez and Demi Vollering&#8217;s preparation, mindset and ambitions for the Tour de France Femmes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;She trained like she had to, but she wasn&#8217;t up there,&#8221; Rousse said, &#8220;but that doesn&#8217;t mean she won&#8217;t be back in the future, fighting for the top spot overall.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I&#8217;m in a good place to know that in the life of a top athlete, from one year to the next, things can stop working so well. I hope people won&#8217;t forget her palmares and what we&#8217;ll be able to see in the future [in races] thanks to her as well.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;She&#8217;s the first person to feel disappointed not to be there at 100%. But she was there at the starts and finishes every day and that meant a lot to people, too.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Rousse said there had been concern over how the race could play out in terms of viewer interest, given this was the first time in its modern history that the end of the men&#8217;s Tour de France and the start of the Tour de France Femmes had been separated by a week. But that calendar switch had worked out well and as a cumulative effect of its impact and success, &#8220;the race now forms part of people&#8217;s daily lives.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">On top of that she argued, the Tour de France Femmes had become a focus point to help &#8220;young girls dream if they take out a racing licence, or help them to identify with top feminine stars. It&#8217;s very important for us.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;When I started racing aged 6, I couldn&#8217;t help but identify with the men, because that was all you saw on TV.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Helping young girls have an opportunity to dream, and not just about getting on a bike, is a very good goal to have, and that&#8217;s why I&#8217;m proud to be the race director. On a broader level, this is about how women take part in sport.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-7f5c2a4e-94a6-11f1-bba6-01926c01ad34\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><em><strong>Support our unrivalled coverage of the Tour de France Femmes and women&#8217;s cycling by subscribing to Cyclingnews. In return, you get unlimited access to high-quality journalism, with breaking news, race analysis, and expert insight from inside the women&#8217;s peloton. Plus, the Cyclingnews app lets you follow the action wherever you go! <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Join today.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/womens-cycling\/we-can-make-the-race-harder-but-do-we-want-to-tour-de-france-femmes-director-marion-rousse-backs-variety-over-difficulty-for-future-route-design\/&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-1024-80.jpg&#8221;] 1 &#8216;Salaries are being paid that defy all logic&#8217; \u2013 As the Tour de France Femmes booms, there are warnings about the economics of women&#8217;s cycling 2 &#8216;I felt stronger than in any other editions&#8217; \u2013 Why Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney can celebrate second at the Tour de France Femmes as much as her [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,68],"class_list":["post-2086943","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-cyclingnews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2086943","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2086943"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2086943\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2086943"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2086943"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2086943"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}