- The second edition of L’Étape du Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift took place this Thursday between Vaison-la-Romaine and the legendary Mont Ventoux (15.7 km at an average gradient of 8.8%). Riders covered 111.7 km with 2,950 metres of elevation gain.
- The event proved an outstanding popular success, attracting 10,500 participants at the start (up 70% compared with last year), with women accounting for nearly one-third of all entries (28%), and 50 nationalities represented, including 15% international riders.
- The final 70 kilometres followed the same route as Stage 7 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, which will take place tomorrow, Friday 7 August, starting from La Voulte-sur-Rhône (146.8 km).
- A number of personalities, influencers and former elite athletes took part, including Lilian Calmejane (28th in 3:38:32), winner of a Tour de France stage in 2017, and Nathalie Simon, former French windsurfing star, now a television and radio presenter and long-distance triathlete and cyclist.
- Defending champion Thibaut Clément successfully retained his title in 3:13:37, ahead of Benjamin Buchetet (3:13:49) and Arthur Blanc (3:16:49). Last year's women's winner Victoria Stansfield also repeated her victory in 3:36:12, finishing ahead of France's Emily Harrop (3:47:24), Olympic ski mountaineering champion (mixed relay) at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games, and New Zealand's Rhylee Akeroyd (3:49:38).
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There are some events that do not need decades of history to become classics. L’Étape du Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is one of them, already occupying a unique place in the calendar for amateur cyclists and passionate riders in France and well beyond. That status was confirmed on Thursday during the second edition, held between Vaison-la-Romaine and the legendary Mont Ventoux (15.7 km at an average gradient of 8.8%), under blazing sunshine—with temperatures already reaching 30°C by 11 a.m. at the finish—and in front of enthusiastic crowds. Riders set off in staggered waves between 7:00 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. across twelve starting pens. The event's success was remarkable: 10,500 participants (a 70% increase compared with last year), thousands of supporters, partners, suppliers and spectators lined the 111.7-kilometre route. Although sections of the course around the Col de Suzette and Col de la Madeleine were closed to pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles because of wildfire risks, the atmosphere remained exceptional throughout. A true celebration of cycling, L’Étape du Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift attracted an incredibly diverse field, many of them newcomers, with 60% taking part in either L’Étape du Tour de France or L’Étape du Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift for the first time. Designed to be significantly shorter and more accessible than the 34th edition of L’Étape du Tour de France, held on 19 July over 170 km between Bourg d'Oisans and Alpe d'Huez, the event welcomed 28% women and riders from 50 different nationalities, with 15% international participants. The event also continues to attract former elite athletes from cycling and many other sports. Olympic mixed relay ski mountaineering champion Emily Harrop—who claimed gold alongside Thibault Anselmet at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games earlier this year—was one such example. Also on the start line was Nathalie Simon, former French windsurfing champion, now a television and radio presenter who has embraced long-distance triathlon as well as road, mountain bike and gravel cycling as part of her Ironman preparation. Simon also took part in several activities surrounding the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, which started in Lausanne on Saturday 1 August and finishes in Nice on Sunday 9 August. Former Tour de France stage winner Lilian Calmejane also delivered an impressive performance, finishing 28th in 3:38:32 after spending many years among cycling's elite. |
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In the men's race, Thibaut Clément successfully defended the title he first won last year between Chambéry and Saint-François-Longchamp via the Col de la Madeleine. Originally from Normandy and now based in Annecy, Clément is a renowned specialist in endurance challenges. Fourth at L’Étape du Tour de France in both 2024 and 2025, runner-up to Luca Cavallo in this year's edition, he also holds several long-distance cycling records, including the unsupported crossing of Corsica by bike. On Thursday he overcame fierce competition, edging Benjamin Buchetet by just 12 seconds, while Arthur Blanc finished 3'12" back in third. Delighted with his victory, Clément said: "To retain my title on the summit of the mythical Mont Ventoux is incredible. Winning after such a great battle with Benjamin Buchetet makes it even more special. The Étapes du Tour are the best cyclosportives of the season. They're always brilliantly organised, there are crowds all along the roads, they're prestigious events and you ride the exact same course as the professionals. The level is also extremely high, so you get to measure yourself against former top-level riders." In the presence of Jean-François Perilhou, Mayor of Vaison-la-Romaine, and Dominique Santoni, President of the Vaucluse Department, the race started amid the Roman remains of Vaison-la-Romaine before heading onto a spectacular route featuring 2,950 metres of climbing. After winding through the vineyards of the Rhône Valley, passing beneath the Dentelles de Montmirail, tackling the Col de Suzette (3.9 km at 6.4%) and the Col de la Madeleine (19.2 km at 7.9%), the race was ultimately decided on the final ascent of Mont Ventoux from Bédoin, where Clément attacked alongside Buchetet before pulling away to victory. The final 70 kilometres were identical to tomorrow's Stage 7 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift between La Voulte-sur-Rhône and Mont Ventoux, marking the first time the women's race will tackle the "Giant of Provence", rising to 1,909 metres above sea level. In the women's race, Victoria Stansfield once again demonstrated her dominance in this type of event. The defending champion successfully claimed a second consecutive victory. Now based in Chamonix and a former trail runner, the Briton had also won L’Étape du Tour de France just three weeks earlier between Bourg d'Oisans and Alpe d'Huez, where more than 15,000 riders took part. Back-to-back victories presented no problem. "Winning twice in a row is incredible—I can hardly believe it. I wasn't expecting it because the course was almost too flat for me!" she laughed. "That made it much harder to win than last year. We stayed in a large group for a long time, but I managed to stay calm. Above all, though, my biggest goal was simply to be on the start line and represent women." She achieved that goal in style. Stansfield finished 11 minutes and 12 seconds ahead of Emily Harrop. A ski mountaineering specialist with four Overall World Cup titles and 26 World Cup victories, Harrop became Olympic mixed relay champion alongside Thibault Anselmet in Milan-Cortina after also winning silver in the individual sprint. The rider from Courchevel thoroughly enjoyed her experience: "I'd already ridden L’Étape du Tour de France twice, but this year I really wanted to do the women's edition—it looked fantastic! I'm so glad I did because it was brilliant. We battled all the way to the foot of Ventoux, even though I'm not used to riding in a peloton. Finishing second was completely unexpected, but I won a bet I'd made with my boyfriend!" she laughed. New Zealand's Rhylee Akeroyd (3:49:38) completed the podium. Beyond the sporting achievements and final results, the event's greatest strength remains its popular appeal. L’Étape du Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is a mass-participation challenge—an adventure that every rider takes on according to their own ambitions and abilities. For many, simply reaching the start line—and especially the finish—is already a tremendous achievement. Riding safely on closed roads through breathtaking scenery, climbing legendary Tour de France roads, and enjoying the services, advice and products offered by official partners at the Vaison-la-Romaine start village—including Shimano, Amacx, Alltricks, Santini and Zéfal—all contributed to an unforgettable experience. It is no surprise that participation surged in only the event's second edition. Finally, L’Étape du Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift once again demonstrated a remarkable spirit of solidarity. Charity race numbers and special jerseys, notably supporting Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque, will help fund life-saving heart surgery for children from around the world born with congenital heart defects—combining sporting achievement with a meaningful cause. |
