«At first glance this Tour de Femmes I like it a lot – says Elisa Balsamo – the first part seems to me to be for sprinters and there will also be a section with dirt roadsIn some ways it will be like returning to our Strade Bianche and I think it will be very nice to see us racing in such a particular setting. The second part will be more difficult with many climbs and we will see the strongest girls come out. The last two days in particular will be very demanding."
In Marion's hand
The world champion comment on the route of the recently revealed stage race e entrusted to the hands of Marion Rousse, star of transalpine cycling and Julian Alaphilippe's life partner. It Aso He was looking for a charismatic figure capable of attracting attention, he drew the right card.
The return of the women's Tour de France deserves a lot of attention, especially for what it represents for the women's movement. And if Lizzie Deignan was probably a little disappointed, given that he was aiming for a three-week edition, the mere eight stages make one think that Since this is the first edition of this management, we wanted to proceed with caution..
Stage 1, July 24: Paris Eiffel Tower-Champs-Élysées, 82 kilometers Stage 2, July 25: Meaux-Provins, 135 kilometers Stage 3, July 26: Reims-Épernay, 133 kilometers Stage 4, July 27: Troyes-Bar-Sur-Aube, 126 kilometers Stage 5, July 28: Bar le Duc-Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, 175 kilometers Stage 6, July 29: Saint Dié des Vosges-Rosheim, 128 kilometers Stage 7, July 30: Sélestat-Le Markstein, 127 kilometers Stage 8, July 31: Lure-Super Planche des Belles Filles, 123 kilometers
Stage 1, July 24: Paris Eiffel Tower-Champs-Élysées, 82 kilometers Stage 2, July 25: Meaux-Provins, 135 kilometers Stage 3, July 26: Reims-Épernay, 133 kilometers Stage 4, July 27: Troyes-Bar-Sur-Aube, 126 kilometers Stage 5, July 28: Bar le Duc-Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, 175 kilometers Stage 6, July 29: Saint Dié des Vosges-Rosheim, 128 kilometers Stage 7, July 30: Sélestat-Le Markstein, 127 kilometers Stage 8, July 31: Lure-Super Planche des Belles Filles, 123 kilometers
Luperini, the last yellow
But we turned to to the last Italian to win the yellow jersey: Fabiana Luperini, who won three of them from 1995 to 1997 (also including 5 Laps), before the race was discontinued in 2009. The yellow jersey has been missing for 24 yearsWe had turned to her some time ago for this very reason. comment on the unusual request of the Roubaix winner. Today, in a way, we come full circle.
«I saw the route – begins the Tuscan – and the first good thing to say is that it's nice that it's organized by AsoI'm pretty sure they wanted to start slow and then build up. It was strange that the most important race was missing and now they have remedied itThe last few editions were a bit run-down, with very long transfers and increasingly worse hotels. I don't want to speak badly, because it was still a great race. But having already won three, at a certain point... we began to wonder if, given the situation, it was worth continuing to go there».
Eight stages, two uphill finishes
The 2022 Tour de Femmes returns to fill a major gap in the women's calendar, and it does so with ASO's bombastic and solemn style. However, those expecting a two-week Tour, as Lizzie Deignan once requested (the Briton actually wanted a three-week race), will be left with a bitter taste in their mouths. The absence of a time trial is notable. The second stage will feature four dirt sectors, while the final two stages will feature tough finishes that will determine the overall standings.
| 1rd stage | Sunday (24/7) | Paris Tour Eiffel-Champs Elysées | km 82 |
| 2rd stage | Monday (25/7) | Meaux-Provins | km 135 |
| 3rd stage | Tuesday (26/7) | Reims-Epernay | km 133 |
| 4rd stage | Wednesday (27/7) | Troyes-Bar-sur-Aube | km 126 |
| 5rd stage | Thursday (28/7) | Bar le Duc-Sain Die des Vosges | km 175 |
| 6rd stage | Friday (29/7) | Saint-Die des Vosges-Rosheim | km 128 |
| 7rd stage | Saturday (30/7) | Selestat-Le Markstein | km 127 |
| 8rd stage | Sunday (31/7) | Lure-Super Planche des Belles Filles | km 123 |
| Total km 1.029 |
A significant absence in your opinion?
For people like Marianne Vos or Anna Van der Breggen, who has now stopped, the Tour would have completed the palmaresThey won many races, very big and beautiful ones. But if you had asked me at the time what I would have liked to win more than the World Championships and the Olympics, I would have said the Tour.And this edition will be more beautiful than mine…
Why?
Because the fact that you organize Aso makes everything cooler. Like it used to be, when Maria Canins took the podium with Hinault and the winners of the men's Tour.
What do you think of the route?
A bit light, a trial edition. There are two uphill finishes, but they are not the Tourmalet or the Alpe d'Huez as they used to be doneBut I'm sure that next year they will change and put Pyrenees and Alps. The three weeks of Deignan were too much, but two are great together.
The time trial is missing…
I noticed this too. I remember that one year I did a 45km race in which I came in thirdI was saved because there was a little climb in the middle. But I also remember riding some prologues at the Tour.
Will you make up your mind in the end?
By force, on those two uphill finishes, which will still leave their markI also saw a 175-kilometer stage, which I think is even too long, even though it's all flat. Let's take the good, though. The Tour de France is back, and that's a big deal for women's cycling.Let's keep this first year like this and you'll see that from next year it will be a real Tour.
