Rotterdam will host the first foreign Grand Départ of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in 2024.
Following last year’s departure from the Champs-Élysées in Paris for the inaugural edition, this year will see riders set off from Clermont-Ferrand to venture into the Pyrenees for the first time with a summit finish on the Tourmalet.
A new milestone will be reached next year when the race ventures outside of France for the first time, heading to the Dutch city of Rotterdam.
The 2024 Tour will take place between Monday, August 12 to Sunday, August 18, a later date in the calendar than the first two editions due to the Olympic Games coming to Paris in late July through to August 11.
Of the eight Tour stages, the Netherlands will host three, with the unveiling of the full route planned for October 25 in Paris, where next year’s men’s race will also be announced.
The first Tour in 2022 was a ratings hit, with half of all Dutch television viewers tuning in to watch the exploits of their riders Marianne Vos and Annemiek van Vleuten.
“The world hub of women’s cycling was a natural choice to host the biggest bicycle race on Earth,” race director Marion Rousse said. “The last few seasons have been a tale of Dutch ascendancy. Starting from the home of these champions will kindle a great popular celebration. Expect their supporters to turn out in force.”
Annemiek van Vleuten will be aiming for a second successive overall victory at the Tour this month but with her retirement announced for the end of the season, she won’t be in the peloton when the peloton visits her home country next year.
Instead, SD Worx’s Dutchwoman Demi Vollering will likely be the star attraction in Rotterdam, and will look to break Van Vleuten’s stranglehold over the three Grand Tours this July.
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