Tour de France Femmes 2023: Route, stages and TV
Building on the first edition was no easy feat. Find out all the info on the 2023 Tour de France Femmes right here.
We don’t know about you, but we’re still in awe of the inaugural Tour de France Femmes! There’s never been a more exciting time for professional women’s cycling. The announcement of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift means we’re gearing up for another incredible year.
The 2022 edition was a great year for Canyon teams: Annemiek van Vleuten of Movistar won the General Classification and CANYON//SRAM Racing took home the team prize. The motivation continues to be high ahead of next year’s race.
Given the success of the 2022 edition, Race Director Marion Rousse had a big challenge ahead of her. Would she be able to build on this year’s success and create a worthy second edition?
On 27 October, the Palais des Congrès housed the who’s who of cycling ready to unveil the 2023 men’s Tour de France as well as the women’s race. As we all sat at home with bated breath, Marion and Christian Prudhomme revealed the fate of the 2023 race.
Tour de France Femmes in numbers:
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Total distance: 956km
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3 regions
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11 departments
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2 mountain ranges (Massif Central and Pyrenees)
To win the first edition last year was the most special thing I achieved in my career.Annemiek van Vleuten - Movistar Team
When is the Tour de France Femmes 2023?
The 2023 edition of the Tour de France Femmes takes place from Sunday 23 July 2023 until Sunday 30 July 2023.
Tour de France Femmes 2023 route
The Tour de France Femmes is made up of 8 stages of racing. There are no rest days which means teams and riders will battle for the coveted jerseys every day.
Tour de France Femmes 2023: Stage 1
Clermont-Ferrand – Clermont-Ferrand | 124km | Flat
Can a route around Clermont-Ferrand ever be that flat? The opening stage of this year’s race will see the peloton do a lap around the city. The winner of this stage will go on to wear the Yellow Jersey, however the Cote de Durtol (1.7km at 7.2%) will ensure it’s no easy feat.
Tour de France Femmes 2023: Stage 2
Clermont-Ferrand – Mauriac | 148km | Hilly
The second stage is where we expect a shake up in the General Classification. A total of 6 categorised climbs await on the final circuit around Mauriac with some spicy gradients. A gentle uphill finish will see the battle is continued all the way to the finish line.
Tour de France Femmes 2023: Stage 3
Collonges La Rouge – Montignac-Lascaux | 147km | Flat
Though this stage is categorised as flat, there are still hills. It’ll be a good day for teams to protect their sprinters and lead them all the way to the finish in hopes of grabbing the Green Jersey.
Tour de France Femmes 2023: Stage 4
Cahors – Rodez | 177km | Hilly
A very long day in the saddle will prove to be decisive during Stage 4. At 177km, it’s 15km longer than Paris-Roubaix Femmes meaning many in the peloton won’t have raced for this long in one day. With just 40km to go, riders will need to shift gears and tackle 4 consecutive tough climbs. We have no doubt there will be multiple battles on the road, especially as the leaders acknowledge the halfway point of the race.
Tour de France Femmes 2023: Stage 5
Onet-le-Chateau – Albi | 126km | Flat
Another “flat” stage with 4 categorised climbs gives sprinters the opportunity to shed their rivals on each climb. A long finish straight could see a reduced peloton head for the line in a bunch sprint.
Tour de France Femmes 2023: Stage 6
Albi – Blagnac | 122km | Flat
A fast day out is ahead for Stage 6. The 4 categorised climbs are short-lived giving way to multiple attacks. At around 20km before the finish line, riders will descend a short hill and race along the flats all the way to Blagnac. Who will be duelling along the 1.1km finishing straight?
Tour de France Femmes 2023: Stage 7
Lannemezan – Tourmalet Bagneres-de-Bigorre | 90km | Mountain
It’s short but it packs a punch. This 90km stage leaves Lannemezan and makes a beeline for the mountains. Taking on the Col d’Aspin and Tourmalet mountain passes for a summit finish, the GC leader after this stage will be best placed to win the overall. Will we see Annemiek launch a solo attack like last year?
Tour de France Femmes 2023: Stage 8
Pau – Pau | 22km | ITT
Just 22km lies between the riders and the end of the Tour de France Femmes. A small climb at the halfway point favours those with something left in their legs after the Tourmalet. If there are small time gaps in the top 5 riders, this stage could prove decisive.
What do the riders think of the route?
“To win the first edition last year was the most special thing I achieved in my career,” said Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar Team) when asked about how she feels after winning the first edition of the race. 2022 was arguably her most successful year yet having the Giro, Tour, Vuelta and World Championship victories on her palmares. What does she think after seeing the route for next year then?
“There are for sure possibilities with the uphill finishes,” she said of the 2023 course. “There are some tricky stages though. I’m really happy there’s no gravel in it! I think it’s a good balance for myself.”
Pauliena Rooijakkers of CANYON//SRAM acknowledged that the 22km individual time-trial could decide the overall winner especially given its placement at the end of the race, however it was the stages beforehand she was really excited about. “To be honest, I like the hard courses like the hilly stages which might be exciting for breakaways,” she said.
Check out the post-presentation catch up with Swiss rider Elise Chabbey to find out her thoughts on the stages for the 2023 Tour de France Femmes.
💛 first reactions?
— CANYON//SRAM Racing & CANYON//SRAM Generation (@WMNcycling) October 27, 2022
🧡 thoughts on Col du Tourmalet?
💛 an early prediction for a target stage?
Hear from @e_chabbey, direct from the #TDFF2023 route reveal in Paris 🇫🇷 ⤵️@LeTourFemmes @GoZwift pic.twitter.com/8azb9beQcX
How to watch the Tour de France 2023
The following broadcasters will be showing the final 2 hours of each stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift:
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GCN+
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Peacock (USA)
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SBS (Australia)
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Sky Sports (New Zealand)
Watch now: Out in Front
Don't miss this behind-the-scenes documentary about what it takes to do the opposite of what is expected of you. Emily Chappell stars alongside former and current professional riders as this film showcases the courage, talent and perseverence of the women's peloton.
"I have wanted to ride in the Tour de France as a child," says Emily reflecting on what it means to contribute to this film. "I'll never be a racer myself, but finally being able to stand at the side of the road and cheer on the women's peloton still felt like I'd had a dream come true. And this film shows us that I wasn't the only one."
Sit back and prepare to be in awe of the women who are trailblazing for the generations after them.
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