Tour de France Femmes 2023 to include Tourmalet finish and individual time trial

Tour de France Femmes 2023 to include Tourmalet finish and individual time trial

The route for the 2023 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has been revealed. After following a similar formula to the men’s race with a start in Paris in its first edition, the race will steer clear of the capital and instead take place primarily in the south of the country, including the Pyrenees.

Starting on the 23rd July in Clermont-Ferrand, in the central region of the country, the route heads south towards the mountains, with stage seven finishing atop the Tourmalet and including the Col d’Aspin along the way, and the race culminating with a 22km individual time trial in Pau.

Although the race will have fewer total kilometres than in 2022, 956 in total, owing to the time trial, there are still long days in the saddle for the peloton including stage four’s 177km route from Cahors to Rodez.

The first GC day comes early in the race, on stage two from Clermont-Ferrand to Mauriac with riders gaining 2,500m in 148km thanks to six categorised climbs. There are plenty of opportunities for the sprinters with stages three and six looking likely to culminate in a bunch kick as well as a possible sprint stage on stage five.

The inclusion of an individual time trial answers the prayers of the likes of world time trial champion Ellen van Dijk, among others, who have been calling for more races against the clock to be added to the women’s WorldTour calendar.