International female tour of the Pyrenees. Soon an essential at the female cycling agenda?

The actors of the International female Tour of the Pyrenees (TFIP) gathered, in the premises of the Téréga company, this Tuesday, May 6, for a presentation of the sixth edition of the Pyrenean Tour scheduled from June 13 to 15. This Tuesday, in front of the major partners of the event, Toray, Téréga, CIC or Total Energies, the director of TFIP, Élisabeth Chevanne, does not hide her pleasure from seeing this meeting repeated: “The three ambitions of this event remain clear,” she says. The visibility of female cycling in order to encourage young girls to practice this sport. The desire to become an international reference, like the Critérium du Dauphiné for men and finally the valuation of the territory, by allowing participants, to climb mythical passes each year. »»

On the practical component, the former professional cyclist, Stéphane Augé and the president of the FC Oloron club, Michel Gilbert, then revealed the new 2025 course: “The first step will start from Arzacq-Arraziguet, at 11:55 am, and will end in Barbazan-Debat, said Michel Gilbert. A stage of 112.6 km to go, for a drop of only 693 m. “And Stéphane Augé to analyze:” We wanted a not too hard step, with a possible arrival at the sprint. A fairly short step, to get all these girls for the next few days. »»

The next day, Saturday, June 14, the fictitious departure will take place in Trie-sur-Baïse for an arrival at the Col du Soulor. A stage of 134.5 km but with a positive elevation of some 2,296 m. “With the elevation, it will be the queen stage of this Tour des Pyrénées,” says Stéphane Augé. I think it is a race where we will be entitled to a breakaway and a big fight in the Col du Soulor. It may be a decisive test for the continuation of the general classification. »»

“Fireworks on the last day”

Finally on Sunday June 15, fictitious departure of abidos and real in front of the town hall of Mourenx for an arrival in Pau, Place de Verdun, around 2:15 p.m. A very hilly stage of 124 km marked by 1,835 m of elevation gain. “This step will be really a tracking, really breakage. There will be surprises and if it is hot … “, warns the former champion. “Clearly we wanted a really atypical course, with a fairly quiet first step, a second mountain and a small fireworks on the last day with a lot of attacks. The organizers also insisted on their will, through this journey, to maintain an uncertainty in the ranking of the ten best runners.

On the starting grid, 21 teams of six runners, or 126 participants. Four World Teams teams made themselves available for this Tour with in particular the FDJ Suez, and its climbers Lina Buijsman, as well as the great tricolor hope Célia Géry, specialist Cyclocross. Six Pro Teams teams, out of the seven in-office, will also be there with, within the Labor Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi team, the outgoing winner of the Tour des Pyrénées, Usoa Ostolaza. Finally, 11 continental teams will complete the table.

Wilma continues the adventure

At the rank of the partners of this TFIP, the company Wilma renews its participation in the event for a second consecutive year and presented, this Tuesday, its new range of jerseys published for the occasion. The founder of the brand, Céline Champonnet offers outfits dedicated exclusively to female, running and cycling sport. Sectors in which the young company wants to facilitate practices. “In cycling in particular, we have developed a global innovation of menstrual technology, directly integrated inside the cuipers. A small revolution that allows women to run freely. »»
Ensuring the organizers of her presence during the three days of upcoming competition, Céline Champonnet took advantage of this presentation to congratulate Élisabeth Chevanne, for all the work accomplished.