Under the cobblestones, the Tour? It almost went unnoticed, but French women's cycling received a huge boost last Tuesday with the announcement of the new cycling calendar. To everyone's surprise, Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), the organizer of the Tour de France and Paris-Roubaix, has announced that the 118th edition of Hell of the North will be contested on October 25, but above all that a female Paris-Roubaix would be held on the same day. And Christian Prudhomme, the head of ASO, announced in the aftermath that the organization of a women's Tour de France, a subject long taboo at ASO, was not excluded for 2022.
"There, we will be able to get our heads out of the water"
"It's a huge and pleasant surprise," says Audrey Cordon-Ragot (Trek-Segafredo). I told myself that my sport would become credible in France the day that women align themselves with Paris-Roubaix. But in fact, I didn't believe it. There, we will be able to get our heads out of the water. And in the process, a women's Tour de France seems inevitable ”.
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Behind this acceleration hides the will of a Frenchman, David Lappartient. The president of the International Cycling Union (UCI) who has taken advantage, in recent days, of discussions on the new calendar to convince ASO to give this pledge to women, faster than expected. "Thank you to the UCI for having imposed this choice," continues Audrey Cordon-Ragot. Now we cannot go back. "
To provoke new vocations in young people
Christelle Reille, Vice-President of the Federation and President of the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes Cycling Committee, is also delighted. "This is inevitably excellent news because such an event will arouse vocations in little girls," she savored. Compared to the Netherlands in particular, there is a considerable delay. There, they had a locomotive with Leontien van Moorsel (quadruple Olympic champion on road and track) which made little Dutch girls want to cycle. We were missing something. Paris-Roubaix will be the start. "
Above all, it will be a prologue according to all observers. "It seems obvious to me that cycling for the next few years will be joint," said Philippe Raimbaud, an agent of the most prominent riders in the French peloton. From now on, the companies which will sponsor the teams will necessarily require that there are also female teams. It will not be the same financial report. A large men's team has a budget of 20 million against 2 for women. But the gap will narrow. ”
A priori, there is no chance of reliving the Women's Tour in its 1984-1989 version and that Jeannie Longo had won three times. At that time, he was arguing on the same dates and raising men's curtains. "Three weeks is not reasonable," admits Audrey Cordon-Ragot. The ideal would be to run it over ten days on the same dates as the Critérium du Dauphiné. And why not by the way from 2021? There is room for three large tours for women. After the women's Giro which lasts ten days, a “North Tour” of the same duration between Denmark, Norway and Sweden will be organized in 2021. There is a place to take. Because the “Tour de France” brand is very strong. It will be a turning point for our sport. ”
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For Christelle Reille, we should not expect to see the French women shine at the start. "Globally, the Dutch and the Belgians are well ahead for now," she says. A Tour de France should not be a hassle for French women. Don't be in a hurry. But to see ASO enter the loop of women's racing organizations is heavy. Now let's have a great showcase and the rest will follow. "
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