Tour de France Femmes 2022: The Route

The Tour de France Femmes sets off from Paris on Sunday 24 July to finish at La Planche des Belles Filles on Sunday the 31th. The route of four predominantly flat stages is rounded out by two hilly races - one of which packed with gravel roads - and two races in the Vosges Mountains in the final weekend.

The Tour de France Femmes opens on the famous Champs-Élysées circuit in Paris. Stage 1 features eleven laps between the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre.

Stage 2 is almost as flat, while the first of two chances for punchers is presented in a race from Reims to Épernay in the Champagne region. Stage 3 takes in five hills, the last of which is crested with 3.7 kilometres remaining.

The 4th stage is Tour de France Femmes’ take on the Strade Bianche. The route features six short and sharp climbs and four unpaved sectors in the second half of the 126 kilometres long race.

Stage 5 is the longest race in a decor of flat to rolling roads, while stage 6 is similar, albeit somewhat more lumpy. The last hill is crested inside within the last 10 kilometres.

The 7th stage is the first of two mountainous trips into the Vosges Mountains. It includes Le Petit Ballon (9.3 kilometres at 8.1%), Col du Platzerwasel (7.1 kilometres at 8.3%) and Le Grand Ballon (13.5 kilometres at 6.7%) before a virtually flat run-in to the line.

The Tour de France for women concludes with another test in the Vosges Mountains, again featuring three ascents. Stage 8 serves the Côte d’Esmoulières (2.3 kilometres at 8.5%) and Le Ballon d’Alsace (9 kilometres at 6.9%) before the race reaches its zenit with La Planche des Belles Filles. The 7 kilometres climb at 8.7% saves the best for last. At 9.5% the final kilometre is not only steep, it’s also unpaved.