Tour de France Femmes 2023: From Col d’Aspin to Tourmalet, Majestic Atmosphere for Queen Stage Unveiling Epic Triumphs Tour de France Femmes 2023s Majestic Mountain Duel The only high mountain stage of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes witnessed a lively audience on Saturday, spanning from Col d’Aspin to Tourmalet. Sporting a wig perched atop her head and a flowing red dress, there’s no mistaking the resemblance. “I’ve resurrected Marie Antoinette after her guillotine fate. It’s my playful nod to France,” Carmen chuckles, having journeyed from Catalonia to follow this year’s Tour de France Femmes. Behind this doppelganger of the Austrian infante, music blares and applause resonates in unison, accompanying every passing car and cyclist within a kilometer of the summit of Col du Tourmalet on the 29th of July, in what’s known as the “Spanish bend” of this 7th stage.
“I came with friends to support the riders, as they don’t receive the same media coverage as the men, even though they absolutely deserve it. We’re going to give them extra energy in the final kilometers,” asserts the woman everyone wants to take a selfie with.
“The Thrills of the Ascent” Much like her, a significant portion of the crowd had already kicked off the festivities several hours before the riders’ arrival. The afternoon has just begun at Col d’Aspin, situated at an altitude of 1,400 meters. Dozens of caravans have already positioned themselves at the summit amidst the brown cows. Hundreds of spectators of all ages, predominantly clad in polka-dotted jerseys and caps, bask in the sunlight as they await the arrival of the Tour de France Femmes riders in a few hours. Signs proclaiming “Go girls!” and “Women, you can!” are scattered along the road.
Sylvain and Elodie have come with their children, 13-year-old Romain and 8-year-old Julia. Also on vacation in the region, the family has brought along board games. However, the focus of the afternoon lies elsewhere: making as much noise as possible. “We’re having a contest to see who can make the most noise when the cyclists pass by,” explains Romain, who hopes to catch a glimpse of Juliette Labous and Cédrine Kerbaol. While awaiting the professionals, amateur cyclists entertain the small family at Col d’Aspin. With the audience’s encouragement and the thuds against safety barriers, each rider amps up the excitement in their own way. The atmosphere leaves no one untouched. “Even we get chills while ascending, so I can imagine what it’s like for the riders,” confirms Thomas, who cycled the ascent with his wife Sandrine and their two sons, Martin (11 years old) and Pierre (9 years old), all the way from their residence lower down in Saint-Lary Soulan. “This is their third bike outing. We surprised them this morning,” Sandrine proudly explains, sporting Team DSM’s jersey. Happy and proud to have conquered this part of the stage, the two boys relish the moment, all the while hoping Juliette Labous shines today.
“It was truly important to be here to support the riders and let them feel our backing.”
Sandrine, a spectator at Col d’Aspin on Franceinfo: Sport A few kilometers further, as the approach to Tourmalet (2,100m) nears, the crowd gathers again. Just like the fog that has joined the festivities, about five kilometers from the summit. Visibility decreases as the top draws nearer.
“Tour de France, Girl Power” A young girl, donning a polka-dotted jersey, extends her arm over the metal barriers for passing amateur cyclists to give her a high-five. Across from her, a group dances to the rhythm of their bike horns. A few meters higher up, young women write the names of the riders on the road: Labous, Vollering, Wiel, Kerbaol… “How do you spell it, you said ‘ue’?” asks a young woman in charge of the paintbrush and white paint. The task is taken seriously and executed meticulously.
No manual labor for Pierre-Cyrille and his son Thomas, originally from Toulouse, who raise their voices instead. “I was a bit worried about today, but I’m thrilled because the public has shown up,” rejoices this cycling enthusiast, holding a sign that reads “Tour de France, Girl Power,” with four hearts in the colors of the distinctive jerseys.
While Pierre-Cyrille came up by car, his son Thomas, who aspires to become a professional cyclist, tackled the course on his bike. “I hope Juliette has a great race today, but I think Demi Vollering will win,” he predicts. At the end of the day, as the sky hangs low and the road is blanketed by thick fog, Demi Vollering emerges first from the mist at Col du Tourmalet. She’s barely distinguishable a few meters from the finish line due to the reduced visibility. The crowd multiplies its encouragement to celebrate the new yellow jersey, who has secured her first stage victory in the 2023 Tour. The new queen of the Tour retains her composure and responds to the crowd with a heartfelt gesture before raising her arms to the sky. A mystical end to the stage, befitting this legendary pass.
