Tour de France Femmes 2023: The Route

The Tour de France Femmes sets off on Sunday 23 July with an out-and-back race in Clermond-Ferrand and the race is going to finish on Sunday the 30th with an ITT in Pau. The Queen stage on the seventh day of action finishes at the Tourmalet, while a mix of flat and hilly stages round out the route.

Stage 1 is played out on an undulating loop to the north of Clermont-Ferrand. The finale features the Côte de Durtol, a climb of 1.7 kilometres at 7.2% with its summit 9 kiometres before the finish.

The 2nd stage is a hilly race, while the last climb – 3.4 kilometres at 5.8% – peaks out under the flamme rouge.

A series of hills mark the heart of the 3rd stage of the Tour de France Femmes. The route levels out considerably in the last 55 kilometres before the final 12 kilometres are as flat a curling rink.

The longest race amounts to 177 kilometres. The first half of stage 4 is virtually flat and following an undulating phase it all comes down to the hilly last 35 kilometres. The finish line appears shortly after a 570 metres ramp at 10.1%.

Stage 5 looks promising for fast finishers with climber’s legs. After some 100 kilometres on hilly terrain the last quarter of the route is virtually flat.

The 6th stage should be for the pure sprinters. Although the route is not entirely flat, the climbs are short and not very steep. Moreover, the last hill is history with 40 kilometres remaining.

The Queen Stage takes place on the seventh day of action. Following a virtually flat run-up, the riders tackle the Col d’Aspin and Col du Tourmalet in the last 42 kilometres. The finish climb is 17 kilometres long and averages 7.3%.

An ITT of 22 kilometres rounds out the route. Stage 8 includes a small midway climb and the last 400 metres go up at 5.7%.