The route of the women’s road race resembles the men’s, but it’s shorter. Not necesarilly easier, as the hills are more densely centered. The race totals nine climbs, only four less than the men’s, while the route is 115 kilometres shorter.
The race sets off from Jardins du Trocadéro, a green space that was created for the Universal Exposition in 1937. The Eiffel Tower looms large on the other side of the Seine, but the riders head in the opposite direction, out of the city, towards the first climb of the day: the Côte des Gardes, 1.9 kilometres at 6%. The route passes the Palace of Versailles and the second climb appears 48 kilometres into the race. The Côte de Port-Royal is 1 kilometre long and averages 5%.
The route reaches its most western point in Auffargis and then goes back to Paris. Moments later, the Côte de Cernay-la-Ville (1.1 kilometres at 3.9%) opens a section of four climbs within 30 kilometres, the other ones being Côte de Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (1.3 kilometres at 6.3%), Côte de Châteaufort (900 metres at 5.7%) and Côte du Pavé des Gardes (1.3 kilometres at 6.5%).
Back in Paris, the riders race past the Louvre to continue onto a city circuit of 18.4 kilometres in the hilltop neighbourhood Montmartre. The lap is ridden three times and so the cobbled Butte Montmartre climb, which takes the riders up towards the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, is tackled three times as well. The 1 kilometre drag at 6.5% is followed by a loop around the northeast of the city with a couple of smaller punches.
There’s still 9.5 kilometres left to race after the second and last time over the Butte Montmartre. The riders fly down to the Seine and cross the water for a flat run-in along the river to the finish on the Pont d’Iéna, a bridge connecting the Jardins du Trocadéro and the Eiffel Tower.
Other interesting reads: results and start list road race Summer Olympics, Paris 2024.
Summer Olympics Paris 2024, road race women: route & profile
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