I recently saw a piece discussing the visibility of women's professional cycling. While the Tour de France Femmes drew large roadside crowds and big viewing figures this year, the conversation often focuses on the sponsors. It is worth noting that the Le Tour Entier campaign, co-founded in 2013 by Kathryn Bertine, Marianne Vos, and Emma Pooley, applied significant pressure for the women's Tour to exist.
It is a powerful reminder of the resilience required to move the sport forward. Beyond the big events, there are still great races to follow, such as the Tour of Britain Women and the UCI Road World Championships Women's Elite Road Race. Even riders like Lucie Fityus, who finished 112th out of 115 finishers, show the incredible grit that makes this sport so compelling.
Does the credit for the Tour de France Femmes' existence belong more to the organizers and sponsors, or to the campaigners who fought for the race?