While the men’s Tour de France may not grace the Jura region in 2024, the women’s peloton is set to make its mark on the scenic French department. According to inside information reported by Le Progres, a stage of the Tour de France Femmes is likely to kick off from Champagnole in the Jura. The exact date remains under wraps, but given the event starts in Rotterdam on August 12 and concludes on August 18, this Jura stage is expected to fall towards the latter part of the race.
This upcoming Tour de France for women is poised to enter France from the North, weaving its way through the Vosges and Jura mountains. As reported by L’Est Républicain, a stage between Remiremont (Vosges) and Morteau (Doubs) will likely be officially announced on October 25. Consequently, the odds of Champagnole hosting the start of the subsequent stage seem high.
Insider chatter suggests the route could proceed towards Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux, passing through Syam and its rugged gorges. However, the exact details of the course and the finishing city are yet to be determined. Speculation also thrives about whether the race’s decisive stages will take place in the Alps, a rumour that has been gathering momentum for several months.
If these possibilities solidify, it would be excellent news for Évita Muzic. The rising star of French cycling, originally from Jura, will have a home advantage, as she’ll race in her native terrain in the FDJ-Suez jersey.
In Morteau, the excitement is also palpable. Having previously hosted the men’s Tour de Romandie in May, the town is keenly awaiting confirmation that it will be the finishing point for a mid-mountain stage setting off from Remiremont. Juliette Labous, still affiliated with VC Morteau Montbenoît, will be particularly motivated for that stage.
As mentioned earlier, on October 25th 2023, ASO, the organising body, will unveil the routes for its major July events. Morteau is expected to feature prominently when the Tour de France Femmes route is finalised. If it comes to fruition, this will make Morteau the second Franche-Comté city to host the finish of a women’s Tour de France stage, following La Planche des Belles Filles in 2022.
