The Tour De France Femmes Begins With An Open Battle In Lausanne

The biggest race in women’s cycling begins this Saturday in Lausanne with more contenders, more racing days and one of the most demanding routes in its young history. A total of 147 riders will start the fifth edition of the Tour de France Femmes, which will cover nine stages between Switzerland and Nice.

The opening day consists of a 138-kilometre loop starting and finishing in Lausanne. Three categorised climbs will gradually reduce the peloton before a final 2.5-kilometre ascent at 4.6%. The gradient is not severe enough for the pure climbers to dominate, but it may eliminate some sprinters and produce a reduced-group finish.

Lorena Wiebes is one of the leading candidates for the first stage and the yellow jersey, although the uphill finish creates opportunities for Marianne Vos and other explosive riders. The general-classification contenders will also have to remain attentive because an early split or a poorly positioned approach to the final climb could immediately cost valuable seconds.

Over the following eight days, the race will offer very different challenges. A 21-kilometre individual time trial will expose any weakness against the clock, while the Mont Ventoux summit finish is expected to produce the decisive mountain confrontation. The final stage around Nice, including repeated ascents of the Col d’Èze, leaves no room for an early celebration.

Defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot starts as one of the main references, but Demi Vollering, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, Marlen Reusser and Spanish revelation Paula Blasi provide unusually deep opposition. Lausanne will award the first yellow jersey, but the road to Nice appears too difficult and varied for any rider to control from the beginning.