The organizers of the Tour de France women were on Thursday on the move in Breton-based cities, 100 days from the big departure in Brittany. On the sidelines of the event, the race director, Marion Rousse, announced that the first step, which will connect Vannes to Plumelec on Saturday July 26, would take place at the end of the day, with an arrival scheduled around 7:30 p.m. in Plumelec, after two passages from the Coast of Cadoudal.
The lag of the stage occurs to avoid any competition with the Tour de France male, which will run its 20th stage that day, and which should arrive in Pontarlier earlier in the afternoon.
Two steps at the same time as men
Traditionally, the first stage of the Tour de France women takes place the same day as the last stage of men (except in 2024 due to the Olympic Games). This year, the first two stages will compete, since, for the first time, the Tour will start on Saturday, for nine days of racing.
If women usually arrived before men, this year will be the opposite. At least for the first step. The next day, in Quimper, the arrival will take place in the afternoon, before a late arrival of men on the Champs-Élysées for the 21st and last stage.
