QUESTION: Unlike most of the classics of the season organized on the same day as the men's race, the two Tours only collide for one day, why this choice?

ANSWER: "It's not the best option for women's cycling. Although it's true that in terms of organization it's easier to have one day of racing rather than two. Many people asked why we didn't do the men's and women's races at the same time. To start with, on the same day, it's impossible from an organizational point of view because the Tour is too big. And it would be the worst mistake that we can do. It's not a waiting race that we want to offer, but a Women's Tour de France. It must not be in the shadow of the men."

The director of the Tour de France Women Marion Rousse, during a photo session, May 20, 2022 in Paris Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP / Archives

Q: Why did you choose an eight-day format?

A: "If it lasted three weeks, we would kill the other races. In addition, the supervision of the teams is much less for the girls. There are not thirty per team as for the men, but rather ten in cycling Finally, let's be frank, three weeks is an additional budget for us, with the risk of closing the door. Unless you race at a discount. But when you have the Tour de France label, you must create a real Tour de France, so the same infrastructure before and after the race, the same safety and the same level of requirements.There will be a caravan, a presentation of the teams, the start villages, entertainment. same thing."

The director of the Tour de France Women Marion Rousse, during a photo session, May 20, 2022 in Paris Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP / Archives

Q: The route, this year, only offers the Vosges as a mountain range, will there be high mountains on the program one day?

A: "You can imagine very high mountains, they are able to climb them and compete with each other. But if we keep this eight-day race format, obviously we will always put the mountain at the end, during the last weekend. -end, like in Paris-Nice or the Dauphiné for men. But obviously one day we will go to very high mountains."

Route of the Tour de France Women 2022 AFP

Q: Is there an interest from the communities, which are essential to the organization?

A: "For the moment, there is less enthusiasm and that's normal because it's new. But the price to pay to accommodate departures and arrivals is lower than for the men's Tour de France. And I'm surprise at the number of letters I have received from mayors already running for future years."

Q: With Juliette Labous and Evita Muzic, who are both 23 years old, does French cycling hold two great hopes?

A: "Within her DSM team, Juliette Labous was really preserved because she wasn't thrust into a leadership role too soon. She was really able to learn at her own pace. Even though she has already played beautiful general classifications, especially in the Giro (seventh in 2021, ninth this year, editor's note). I think it is the best French chance in the general classification. Evita Muzic had taken a mess at the end of last season, which had caused her problems with one knee, but she came back well. She did a hell of a job for Marta Cavalli (her leader at FDJ-Suez, editor's note) when she won the Flèche wallonne. She is the example of these young people who push and learn a little in the shadow of other leaders. She will hatch tomorrow. We risk seeing her this year in the Tour de France,probably not to play the general classification but to be an actress."

© 2022 AFP