The reboot of the Tour de France Femmes feels a little closer today after the teams were announced for the 2022 race. The route was announced back in October 2021 and will see riders head east after starting on the Champs Elysees. After traversing across France, the race will finish in the Vosges mountains at the summit of La Super Planche des Belles Filles.
Tour de France Femmes 2022 Route
Tour de France Femmes 2022 Teams
The Tour de France Femmes organisers are obliged to enter the 14 Women’s WorldTour teams and unsurprisingly, all have decided to take part in the race. There are also 3 non-WWT teams who are guaranteed invites – Ceratizit WNT, Parkhotel Valkenburg and Valcar-Travel & Service. All 3 have also agreed to race. This leaves 7 teams that are fully at the race organiser’s discretion. It’s hardly a surprise to see the 4 French non-WWT invites secure a wildcard invite. Arkea and Cofidis are probably the two stronger teams. Cofidis made quite an entrance into women’s cycling last season by declaring a €1 million budget but also choosing not to apply for WWT status. They probably felt they were a lock to be in this year’s Tour de France Femmes.
That leaves AG Insurance-NXTG, Le Col-Wahoo and Plantur-Pura. We saw AG Insurance-NXTG secure new sponsorship shortly before Brugge-De Panne and that investment has paid off handsomely already with the team now racing in the biggest race on the women’s calendar. Le Col-Wahoo should have French representation in Gladys Verhulst but also have a mix of riders like Eider Merino and Marjolein van ‘t Geloof who can do well in different stages. Plantur-Pura will have their eyes fixed firmly to Stage 4’s gravel sections through the vineyards. Expect the plethora of cyclocross talent on the team to do well there. Yara Kastelijn is also a bit of a dark horse.
