Girls Belong on Bikes”: Marion Rousse, Director of Tour de France Femmes, Emphasizes Women’s Cycling Presence
Marion Rousse, the director of Tour de France Femmes, shared her thoughts during an interview with franceinfo on Sunday. She celebrated the remarkable achievements of female cyclists and boldly asserted the rightful place of women in cycling.
“At the finish line in Pau, no one can tell me that girls don’t belong on a bike,” declared Marion Rousse on Sunday, July 30, speaking to franceinfo. She is the director of Tour de France Femmes, which concluded its event in Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, on the same day.
Tour de France Femmes 2023: Vollering’s Power Move, Labous’ Attacks… Recap of Stage 7
As Demi Vollering secured victory in the seventh stage, the Director of the Women’s Tour emphasized that the Dutch cyclist “launched her attack 5 kilometers before the finish, and chaos ensued behind her. The best emerged as the victor on the queen stage,” assured Marion Rousse. With over 1 minute 50 seconds ahead of Katarzyna Niewiadoma and a lead of 2 minutes 28 seconds over Annemiek Van Vleuten, Vollering is in a favorable position to clinch the Tour de France Femmes title, according to the Tour’s head.
Describing the seventh stage as already part of cycling lore, Rousse explained, “The route, featuring Col d’Aspin and the finish at Tourmalet, is iconic for both male and female cyclists. Time may have further enshrined this stage in history.” She referenced the legendary duel between Contador and Schleck that took place in the same location under similar weather conditions in 2010.
Regarding French rider Juliette Labous, who was sixth in the general classification before the last stage, Rousse expressed concern that she might narrowly miss the podium. Rousse praised Labous’s exceptional week of performance but noted the setback of losing 48 seconds due to overheating during the first stage. Rousse acknowledged Labous’s strong effort in the final stages and stated, “She can be proud of herself.”
Rousse also highlighted “the white jersey on Cedrine Kerbaol’s side,” which is “quite promising.”
Reflecting on the audience, Rousse admitted to being moved by the substantial support seen at the starting line, finish line, and throughout the course. She stated that the second edition was crucial to confirm the success of the first and that this had been achieved due to the competitors’ compelling storyline and the public’s enthusiastic engagement both on-site and through television broadcasts.
Rousse expressed her delight in the open race dynamic and hinted at podium suspense in multiple dimensions, including Van Vleuten’s potential for second place and Lotte Kopecky’s chance for podium entry.
Close to two million viewers tuned in for this women’s Tour.
Marion Rousse characterized 2023 as a year of affirmation, stating, “We needed to demonstrate that the inaugural edition wasn’t mere curiosity but held genuine sporting interest. It’s a Tour de France: we continued the three-week July saga and added an extra week of racing.”
Looking ahead, Rousse advocated for measured progress, emphasizing the evolution of women’s cycling in recent years while acknowledging the gap with men’s cycling. She cited previous women’s Tours de France and highlighted the need for better economic viability within women’s cycling, encouraging more sponsors to invest. She noted the unprecedented global reach of women’s cycling, broadcasted in 190 countries worldwide, and emphasized the nearly two million daily viewers, matching last year’s numbers.
The next Tour de France Femmes is scheduled from August 12 to 18, 2024, “between the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Rousse clarified.
