As the peloton prepares to roll out for the opening stage of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, riders will be offered more than just their usual bidons and race numbers. This year, The Cyclists’ Alliance (TCA) is marking the start of the race with a gesture designed to unite the peloton and highlight the ongoing push for equality and support in women’s cycling.
On Saturday morning, TCA will distribute purple ribbons to riders – a symbolic initiative representing strength, unity, and the collective commitment to a fairer future for the sport. Riders can choose to wear the ribbon during the race, pass it on to a teammate or fan, or inscribe it with a personal message of solidarity.
“The purple ribbon is a simple but meaningful symbol. When worn together, it becomes a powerful visual display of the unity and collective voice within the women’s peloton,”
– Deena Blacking, Managing Director of The Cyclists’ Alliance.
A visible sign of shared purpose
TCA President Grace Brown and Vice President Christine O’Connell will be on hand before Stage 1 to distribute the ribbons directly to the riders. The hope is that the ribbons become a visual reminder of the rider-led advocacy that continues to shape the future of women’s cycling.
While the race will capture global headlines for its competitive drama, the purple ribbon aims to refocus attention on what binds the peloton together beyond team colours or personal ambitions. The initiative aligns with TCA’s ongoing mission to support and represent the collective interests of professional women riders across all levels.
Riders and fans are encouraged to join the movement online by sharing photos or messages with the hashtags #WeRideTogether and #StrongerTogether, and tagging @thecyclistsalliance on social media.
Connecting beyond the race
For those not racing in the Tour, TCA will also be hosting an informal drop-in session in Girona on Friday 25th July, the day before the race begins. Deena Blacking and Rider Council member Heidi Franz will be at Idle Hands Café during the morning to speak about TCA’s current work, hand out ribbons, and engage with riders, fans, and media in a more personal setting.
Survey results on the horizon
TCA’s 8th Annual Rider Survey results will be published shortly after the Tour concludes. With over 200 rider responses, it remains one of the most comprehensive snapshots of the current state of the sport, from contracts and working conditions to career development and racing opportunities.
This purple ribbon campaign reflects a broader ethos behind The Cyclists’ Alliance: that unity in the peloton doesn’t mean uniformity, but shared purpose. In the high-stakes atmosphere of the Tour de France Femmes, the visual simplicity of a ribbon may well be one of the race’s most powerful statements.
