We no longer need men for the Tour de France Femmes to exist’: race director Marion Rousse profile

July 25, 2025

In just four years, the Tour de France Femmes has gone from being an addendum to the men’s race to an established and exciting fixture in its own right. That’s down to a boom in women’s sport in general, but also to the determination of race director Marion Rousse.

In 2026, the Tour de France Femmes will not piggyback the men’s Tour, the Olympic Games or anything else. It will be its own event and no longer riding on the coattails of the men’s peloton, an achievement that has taken just four years, during which sponsors, TV rights holders and the wider sports audience have all embraced the Femmes. Cyclist