The route of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift was unveiled in Paris on 27 October. From 23 to 30 July, eight stages must be completed between the start in Clermont-Ferrand and the finish in Pau.
Race director promises a balanced course
"We really wanted to create a balanced course that would suit the different female racers. There is something for everyone," said race director Marion Rousse at the route presentation. In the run-up to the first Tour de France Femmes, TOUR spoke at length with Rousse. The whole interview is available here.
As with the premiere of the Tour de France Femmes 2022, the women's race will start on the same day that the men's Tour of France ends in Paris. Only this time, the women won't start in the French capital, but in Auvergne, where the men's Tour de France also stopped in 2023.
Women's Tour de France 2023: Start of the in the Auvergne
However, the women don't climb the Puy de Dome like the men, but the course is challenging right from the start on stage 1. The first part of the opening section is quite flat, but this changes in the finale. Nine kilometres before the finish, the summit of the Cote de Durtol is reached - a climb of 1.7 kilometres with an average gradient of 7.2 per cent. A good opportunity for a puncheur to break away and ride towards the finish in Clermont-Ferrand alone or with a small group.
The second stage of the 2023 Women's Tour de France covers 151.7 kilometres from Clermont-Ferrand to Mauriac with six categorised climbs. Although these are all relatively short with a maximum length of 4.5 kilometres, the final ramp to the finish in Mauriac is another 3.4 kilometres with a gradient of 5.8 per cent. Optimal conditions for a first small exchange of blows between the favourites in the Tour de France Femmes.
A chance for the sprinters?
Stage three between Collonges-la-Rouge and Montignac Lascaux could be a spoilsport for the sprinters. Although the first part of the section is hilly, there are no more significant topographical difficulties in the last 50 kilometres or so. The last twelve kilometres to the finish are flat as a plate.
The women's Tour de France continues on to Rodez the next day. A stage location that is also often on the programme for the men's Tour of France. After a flat start in the first part of the stage, the profile of the last 50 kilometres or so resembles that of an Ardennes classic. Five categorised climbs are listed in the stage profile. Shortly before the finish, there is a ramp over 570 metres with an average gradient of 10.1 per cent. The puncheurs are also expected to be at the front here.
Stage 5 a grab bag
On 27 July 2023, 126.1 kilometres must be completed between Onet-le-Chateau and Albi. The hilly profile with four categorised shorter climbs makes the 5th stage of the 2023 Women's Tour de France difficult to predict. It could be a welcome opportunity for an escape group.
Stage 6 is predestined for the sprinters with a 1100 metre long finishing straight. The 122.1 kilometres between Albi and Blagnac are almost completely flat - even if there are four mountain classifications, which shouldn't be too much of a challenge for the women with the fast legs.
Tour de France Femmes 2023: Queen stage ends on the Tourmalet
The penultimate day of the 2023 Women's Tour de France is the queen stage. It goes from Lannemezan to the Col du Tourmalet. The Col d'Aspin must also be conquered over the 90 kilometres before a preliminary decision on the overall victory in the 2023 Tour de France Femmes is made on the flanks of the Tourmalet, which is ridden via Sainte-Marie-de-Campan and La Mongie. 17.1 kilometres uphill with an average gradient of 7.5 per cent - a festive day for women's cycling!
The 2023 women's Tour de France ends with an individual time trial around Pau. The 22.6 kilometres are largely flat with two smaller climbs. This is where the final decision will be made as to who will win the 2023 Women's Tour de France.
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Women's Tour de France 2023: All stages at a glance
Stage 3 - Tuesday, 25 July: Collonges-la-Rouge - Montignac-Lascaux - 147.2 kilometres
Stage 8 - Sunday, 30 July: Pau - Pau (individual time trial) - 22.6 kilometres
The 2023 Women's Tour de France on the map
