Preview Tour de France Femmes 2024 | The world's elite female cyclists take on a challenging new course

We're only on the third edition, but the women's Tour de France has already become a staple of cycling. It feels like we've been doing this for years, but don't be mistaken! When Annemiek van Vleuten dominantly rode to victory in 2022, that was only the first time. Demi Vollering took over from her last year. This year, who will win the third Tour de France Femmes, which is on the menu from August 12 to 18? IDLProCycling.com previews what is already the key event on the women's calendar.

Practical information Tour de France Femmes 2024

• Monday, Aug. 12 through Sunday, Aug. 18, 2023
• Participants
  
• Classification: 2.WWT

In this article

• Most recent winners
• Course, times and favorites
• Favorites ranking
• TV information

Most recent winners Tour de France Femmes

2023 Demi Vollering
2022 Annemiek van Vleuten

Tour de France Femmes 2024: Course, climbs, times and favorites

For the third consecutive year, the Tour route is completely different, with the Netherlands as the main host. The cities of The Hague, Rotterdam, Dordrecht and Valkenburg will be the battleground for the peloton over the first three days — spread across four stages. Sprinting, time trialing and on day three, a start from Valkenburg for the first stage full of climbs. In the second part of the Tour, we head to France, where the Grand Bornand and Alpe d'Huez will decide the race in the final weekend.

Stage 1 - Monday, Aug. 12, 2024: Rotterdam - The Hague (123.0 km)

The Tour de France Femmes kicks off on Monday with a flat stage in the western Netherlands. Rotterdam is the organizing start location, though we will return to the port city later. The finish is set in The Hague. Along the way, there will be a battle for the first mountain jersey over the Maasdeltatunnel, but normally, we expect a sprint finish here.

Climbs
61.0 km: Maas Delta Tunnel (1.0 km at 3.1%)

Favorites
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)
Charlotte Kool (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL)
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)

Times
Start: 12:45 PM locally / 6:45 AM EST
Finish: around 3:41 PM locally / 9:41 AM EST

Stage 2 - Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024: Dordrecht - Rotterdam (69.7 km)

On Tuesday morning, the ladies will first tackle a short road stage before switching to time trial bikes in the afternoon. The question is: who will want to try something between Dordrecht and Rotterdam, knowing that another big challenge is coming up? The course is billiard-flat, so the fast women can go at it again.

Climbs
No.

Favorites
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)
Charlotte Kool (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL)
Daria Pikulik (Human Powered Health)

Times
Start: 10 AM locally / 4 AM EST
Finish: around 11:39 AM locally / 5:39 AM EST

Stage 3 - Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024: Rotterdam - Rotterdam (6.3 km, time trial)

In the afternoon, it's time for the time trial specialists to shine. Or, well, sprinters are often quite good at this kind of effort, which lasts around ten to fifteen minutes. The visuals will be amazing, with the Erasmus Bridge as the centerpiece and a time check just after that at the intermediate point. Two long, straight sections will give the specialists a slight advantage.

Climbs
No.

Favorites
Grace Brown (FDJ-Suez)
Riejanne Markus (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)

Times
Start first rider: 3:10 PM locally / 9:10 AM EST
Finish last rider: around 5:50 PM locally / 11:50 AM EST

Stage 4 - Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024: Valkenburg - Liège (122.7 km)

Amstel Gold Race meets Liège-Bastogne-Liège! This will be a fantastic stage where we leave the Netherlands via the famous Limburg hills and finish on the legendary climbs towards Liège in Belgium. Expect a battle right from the start — it can hardly go any other way!

Climbs
6.6 km: Bemelerberg (1.3 km at 4.9%)
12.8 km: Cauberg (700 m at 8.0%)
17.8 km: Geulhemmerberg (1.1 km at 5.1%)
23.4 km: Bemelerberg (1.3 km at 4.9%)
74.8 km: Mont-Theux (2.8 km at 5.6%)
88.8 km: La Redoute (1.6 km at 9.4%)
99.6 km: Côte des Forges (1.3 km at 7.8%)
109.4 km: Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons (1.3 km at 11.0%)

Favorites
Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek)
Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime)
Grace Brown (FDJ-Suez)

Times
Start: 12:25 PM locally / 6:25 AM EST
Finish: around 3:59 PM locally / 9:59 AM EST

Stage 5 - Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024: Bastogne - Amnéville (152.5 km)

The fifth stage on day four is a copy of the day before, but with much less challenging climbs. This could be a day for breakaway riders who might get a free pass here. Or will there be sprinters with a punch looking for a sprint opportunity in Amnéville?

Climbs
14.1 km: Côte de Hotte (1.2 km at 7.9%)
69.6 km: Côte de Saint-Pancré (1.5 km at 3.9%)
79.0 km: Côte de Fermont (1.5 km at 4.6%)
125.0 km: Côte de Briey (1.1 km at 4.4%)
137.3 km: Côte de Montois-la-Montagne (1.7 km at 6.0%)

Favorites
Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck)
Fem van Empel (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek)

Times
Start: 12:05 PM locally / 6:05 AM EST
Finish: around 4 PM locally / 10 AM EST

Stage 6 - Friday, Aug. 16, 2024: Remiremont - Morteau (159.2 km)

As we move deeper into France, the climbs continue to come in quick succession. On day five, in the sixth stage, the first part of the route features no significant obstacles. However, the finale could be a challenge, with the La Roche du Prêtre climb followed by the short but steep Côte des Fins. The finish follows after a descent and a flat section. Breakaway? Or will the GC contenders make their move here?

Climbs
11.7 km:Col du Mont de Fourche (3.2 km at 5.9%)
90.0 km:Col de Ferrière (2.6 km at 4.7%)
106.0 km: Côte de Laviron (5.7 km at 4.1%)
133.1 km: La Roche du Prêtre (5.5 km at 5.6%)
144.3 km: Côte des Fins (1.8 km at 6.9%)

Favorites
Blanka Vas (SD Worx-Protime)
Pfeiffer Georgi (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL)
Liane Lippert (Movistar)

Times
Start: 11:40 AM locally / 5:40 AM EST
Finish: around 3:58 PM locally / 9:58 AM EST

Stage 7 - Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024: Champagnole - Le Grand-Bornand (166.4 km)

Now begins the real climbing! After a demanding stage with barely a flat moment along the way, we end the day with the Grand Bornand. With 7 kilometers climbing at 5.1% on paper, it doesn't seem too tough, so perhaps some powerful riders can survive here, although they are likely to be dropped on the final day.

Climbs
57.8 km: Col de la Croix de la Serra (12.0 km at 5.1%)
88.0 km: Côte de Bois d'Arlod (2.4 km at 4.6%)
111.0 km: Côte de Cercier (4.0 km at 4.9%)
156.0 km: Col de Saint-Jean-de-Sixt (5.4 km at 5.1%)
166.4 km: Grand Bornand (7.0 km at 5.1%)

Favorites
Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime)
Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek)
Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon // SRAM)

Times
Start: 10:50 AM locally / 4:50 AM EST
Finish: around 3:44 PM locally / 9:44 AM EST

Stage 8 - Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024: Le Grand-Bornand - Alpe d'Huez (149.9 km)

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Climbs
27.2 km: Col de Tamié (9.5 km at 4.0%)
98.5 km: Col du Glandon (19.7 km at 7.2%)
149.9 km: Alpe d'Huez (13.8 at 8.1%)

Favorites
Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime)
Kristen Faulkner (EF-Oatly-Cannondale)
Shirin van Anrooij (Lidl-Trek)

Times
Start: 2 PM locally / 8 AM EST
Finish: around 6:59 PM locally / 12:59 PM EST