The Tour de France Femmes will start on Saturday, July 26. After a successful Grand Départ in Rotterdam, the organizers have chosen to begin next year’s race back on French soil, in Bretagne. The finish line for the opening stage awaits atop a hill around two kilometers in length.

The opening weekend promises plenty of action for punchers, with another uphill finish on day two. Days three and four will feature flatter profiles, followed by the riders’ entry into the Central Massif on day six, after a hilly fifth stage. The queen stage is scheduled for the penultimate day, with the legendary Col de la Madeleine set as the key challenge. On the final day, riders will face the Col de Joux Plane, making the final weekend exceptionally tough.

Team manager Rutger Tijssen expressed satisfaction with the outlined route. “This is a fantastic course for our team. Next year’s Tour will last nine days, an extra stage compared to last year. It will be a race of endurance, with some long stages. At first glance, it seems better structured. The Tour begins with hilly stages, followed by a few sprint stages, and the finale will be exceptionally demanding, with serious climbing required in the last two stages. The main challenge clearly lies in that final weekend. It’s also noteworthy that there’s no time trial in this Tour de France Femmes, which is a bit surprising and, frankly, a bit disappointing.”

“With riders like Marion Bunel and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, we have some strong climbers in our lineup,” Tijssen continued. “There are also real opportunities for Marianne Vos in this Tour de France Femmes. We have plenty of chances as a team to do very well. I also think it’s great that it takes place right after the men’s Tour de France. It’s the best spot on the cycling calendar, as it’s vacation season in Europe. The finale will be near Les Portes du Soleil, a true holiday region. It’s fantastic, and I expect a great crowd. We’re definitely looking forward to it!”