The Women's Tour returns with several particularities in its third edition compared to the previous ones; the most important and differential is that more than half of the stages will be held outside France due to the coincidence in dates with the Olympic Games in Paris.
Another great novelty that is creating a lot of expectation will occur in stages 2 and 3, being disputed on the same day, a short stage in Linaa in the morning and a CRI in the afternoon. Thus recovering a format of two stages in the same day, something that has not happened since the last century.
From Gobik, we want to tell you a little about this edition so that you know in depth its stages, the key days, and what are the best options to go to see live Le Tour de France Femmes.
August 12 and 13. Le Grand Départ: The Dutch triptych
The first three stages of TDFF 2024 will be in the picturesque - and flat - city of Rotterdam, where the wind will surely be the main protagonist of the days.
Stage 1: Rotterdam - The Hague. On Monday, August 12, we will have the Grand Départ with 123 km totally flat from Rotterdam to The Hague. The sum of the nerves of the first day, the need of the sprinters teams to get the victory, the fresh legs and the strong wind that usually exists in the area, gives us as a result a real ambush stage where the most important thing for the GC girls will be to avoid crashes or time losses by fans. It is a stage where there is hardly anything to win but a lot to lose, the main objective for the favorites will be to reach the finish line without surprises. Regarding the stage victory, this should be disputed between the sprinters, however if it is very windy and fans are formed is not ruled out that a breakaway arrives.
The next day, the great novelty of this TDFF: Two stages in one day.
Stage 2: Dordrecht - Rotterdam. We start the day with an extremely short (70km) and totally flat stage that will start from the town of Dordrecht and return to Rotterdam. The particularity of the few km is sure to make it an intense and dangerous stage. The wind will be strong again, so the positioning and the ability to enter the fans will be key in order not to lose time.
And in the afternoon, a CRI of only 6 km in which, although the differences will not be very big, it will serve to start to see clearly who has the best legs in this TDFF.
An important point in these first two Dutch weeks will be the great atmosphere that is expected. The passion of this country for cycling and the fact that many of the favorites are local, will surely encourage many people to go out to the streets to enjoy the biggest cycling event in the world.
August 15-16: Springtime in summertime
Stage 3: The Ardennes is cycling history. Stage of the oldest race in the world and with an unparalleled culture and tradition. From the Netherlands we move to Belgium and its classic hills. Two stages that smell like spring classics on the routes of the dean of cycling (Liège - Bastogne - Liège) that will involve real ambushes in the form of walls, bad roads and wind or rain.
Stage 4: Valkenburg - Liège. We enter Belgium along the route of the famous Liège - Bastogne - Liège. We must put special focus on the ascent to La Redoute, where possibly the first important differences in the GC will be marked. Undoubtedly, a stage marked in red for the girls who do not have so many possibilities in the high mountains, or for the "outsiders" looking for a successful breakaway.
Stage 5: Bastogne - Amnéville. The TDFF finally arrives in France in another stage with the aroma of a classic. Once again the hills, roads and wind will again be the protagonists in a 152 km stage that, especially after the fatigue of the previous day, can be a real trap.
August 17, 18 and 19: France at last, mountains at last
And on its sixth day, the Tour de Femmes arrives in France. In a very peculiar edition with only three stages in France, it is presumed that the concentration of the French public in these 3 days will be very noticeable. Both because of the few chances this year to see the TDFF on French soil and because of the attraction of 3 very hard stages that will provoke an unprecedented final climax.
Stage 6: Remiremont - Morteau. A mid-mountain appetizer before the two final stages. A long route (160 km) full of 2nd and 3rd category passes with a finish in Morteau after a 2km climb at 7% which, crowned 10km from the finish, is sure to be the scene of an attempt by the favorites.
Stage 7: Champagnole - Le Grand Bornand. First of the two final stages of the TDFF. 170km with 3000m positive that, added to the fatigue of the previous day and perhaps with the mind set on the Alpe d'Huez the next day, will probably be the judges of the GC. Although there are no special category climbs, the cyclists will chain up to 6 climbs in a row with technical descents. With the legs already short for the "outsiders" and the need for the teams to control the race, a stage for the girls in the general classification is foreseen.
Stage 8: Le Grand Bornand - Alpe d'Huez. The queen stage of this TDFF. The day when everything will be decided. A day of those that honor cycling, with Dantesque airs. The 21 mythical curves of Alpe d'Huez will put an end to an odyssey of almost 4000m positive after 150km on the last day of the tour. Hardness, epic, history, atmosphere... This stage has all the numbers to be the scene of a historic day in the TDFF.
If you want to go see stage 8 live, we recommend staying in Le Bourg d'Oisans the day before and cycling up to Alpe d'Huez in the morning. You are sure to enjoy a memorable day of cycling.
We hope you find this guide to follow the Women's Tour de France useful and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us. Stay tuned to our Blog to keep up to date with the most important cycling events in the world.
