The 2024 Tour de France Femmes promises a dramatic showcase of cycling, with a route designed to challenge the riders on multiple fronts, starting in the Netherlands and concluding on the iconic Alpe d’Huez. The route is split into two distinct parts, catering first to sprinters before shifting to a climber’s paradise in the final stages.
Dutch delight in the opening stages
The race kicks off on Monday, 12th August, with a 124 km stage from Rotterdam to The Hague. This first stage is a flat route, typical of Dutch terrain, and is expected to favour the sprinters. Riders will tackle a small climb at the end of the Maasdeltatunnel, earning the first points for the polka dot jersey.
After passing through the tunnel, the peloton will head towards The Hague, where a mass sprint is almost certain to decide the winner. The final sprint will take place along the beachside in Kijkduin, with a slight uphill finish adding an extra challenge. The battle between top sprinters like Lorena Wiebes, Elisa Balsamo and Charlotte Kool, could be the highlight of the day.
The next day, Tuesday, 13th August, the riders face a busy schedule with two stages. The morning begins with a short, flat 67 km route from Dordrecht to Rotterdam. This stage is expected to be another opportunity for the sprinters, with no significant obstacles along the way. The final sprint in Rotterdam will likely be a nail-biting finish.
Later in the afternoon, the riders will compete in a 6.3 km individual time trial in Rotterdam. The course is relatively straightforward, consisting mostly of long, straight sections, which will benefit the power riders rather than the pure time trial specialists. Lorena Wiebes will also be in the hunt on this stage after her impressive turn at the Baloise Ladies Tour recently.
Transition to Belgium and France
As the Tour progresses, the terrain shifts dramatically. On Wednesday, 14th August, Stage 4 begins in Valkenburg, Netherlands, and ends 122 km later in Liège, Belgium. The stage is a nod to the Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, featuring climbs like the Bemelerberg, Cauberg, and Geulhemmerweg early on, before heading into the Ardennes for a series of challenging climbs including Côte de la Redoute and Roche-aux-Faucons. This stage is designed for the puncheurs, with the final 35 km likely to see significant action.
Thursday, 15th August, finally marks the Tour’s entry into France with Stage 5, a 150 km route from Bastogne to Amnéville. The day features a series of five categorised climbs, though none are particularly steep or long. The final climb, Côte de Montois-la-Montagne, comes just 15 km from the finish, leaving the door open for sprinters who can survive the hills.
Mountain battles in the Vosges and the Alps
The climbers will have their first real test on Friday, 16th August, during Stage 6 from Remiremont to Morteau. The 160 km stage includes several challenging climbs, with the action expected to peak in the final 30 km. The riders will face the Roche du Prêtre, followed by the steep Côte des Fins, before a downhill finish in Morteau. This stage, or maybe the stage before, represent the best chances for a breakaway to take a stage win before the serious GC stuff gets underway.
Saturday, 17th August, brings the longest and one of the toughest stages of the race, a 167 km journey from Champagnole to Le Grand-Bornand. The riders will face a series of climbs throughout the day, culminating in a brutal final 20 km that includes the Col de Saint-Jean-de-Sixt and the Montée du Chinaillon, where the finish line awaits. This stage is expected to be crucial for the general classification, with the strongest climbers likely to make their move.
Alpe d’Huez finale
The 2024 Tour de France Femmes concludes on Sunday, 18th August, with a 150 km stage from Le Grand-Bornand to Alpe d’Huez. This stage is the queen of the Tour, with three massive climbs that will push the riders to their limits. The first is the Col de Tamié, followed by the gruelling Col du Glandon, a 19.7 km climb with gradients reaching nearly 9% in the final kilometre.
The ultimate test, however, is the final climb to Alpe d’Huez. Known as the “Dutch mountain” for its iconic status among Dutch cycling fans, this 13.8 km ascent with its 21 hairpin bends is where the Tour will be decided. Christian Prudhomme, the director of the ASO, summed up the decision to finish on Alpe d’Huez, stating, “Marion Rousse and I wanted to start in a country passionate about cycling. And we end on Alpe d’Huez, the Dutch mountain, because of the love of cycling in your country.”
This year’s Tour de France Femmes promises a mix of flat, hilly, and mountainous stages that will test the riders across all terrains, culminating in what is sure to be a thrilling finale on one of cycling’s most iconic climbs.
Main photo credit: Cor Vos
