Several professional female cyclists are asking the organizers of the Tour de France, Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), to include a women's tour alongside the men's race, starting in 2014. The initiative, including a letter and online petition, was launched on July 11 by a Dutch cyclist, Marianne Vos; Chrissie Wellington, four-time Ironman world champion; Emma Pooley, British Olympic silver medallist; and Kathryn Bertine, three-time national champion for the St. Kitts and Nevis Cycling Federation in the West Indies.
The Tour de France, which has celebrated this year its 100th edition, is one of the most celebrated endurance sports events in the world and benefits from wide media coverage. A female version of the race, known as “La Grande Boucle Féminine,” was set in place from 1984 to 2009, but the event was not directly associated with the men's Tour de France and struggled to find sponsorship money. The online petition for a women's race, available at www.change.org, has already gathered around 60,000 signatures.
Meanwhile, a new women's cycling race has been announced in the U.K. that will take place from May 2014, building on the sharp increase in interest and participation in women's cycling in the country. Called The Women's Tour, the new event is organized by SweetSpot Group, the current organizers of The Tour of Britain and joint organizers of Prudential RideLondon, the largest mass-participation cycling festival in the U.K.
The Women's Tour will take place over five days in May, in the southeast of England. It will be televised daily on national TV and broadcast in other countries around the world. In addition to elite racing each day, with some of the best riders in the world, the event format will see a package of associated activities at each start and finish town aimed at inspiring women and their families to lead a healthier lifestyle and get involved in the sport. SweetSport Group is currently seeking commercial partners for the event.
