"The Tour de France Femmes is boosting women's cycling, ushering in a prosperous period for female cyclists - as claimed by Zwift."
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has made a significant impact on women's professional cycling since its modern revival in 2022. This groundbreaking event has enhanced pay equity, visibility, and commercial interest within the sport.
Pay Equity
Financial growth has been a key driver of change. Since the race's inception, the average team budget in the Women's WorldTour has nearly doubled, increasing from €2.35 million to approximately €4.67 million. This growth has led to improved salaries for riders, with many now able to operate as full-time professionals with proper contracts, health coverage, and support services.
The financial stability has also allowed for better professional standards across the peloton, including enhanced staffing and equipment, benefitting more than just the top teams.
Visibility
The Tour de France Femmes has significantly boosted visibility for women's cycling. It has become a central event around which the sport orbits, attracting a growing global audience. Official social media followers increased to 2.6 million in 2024, and video content views rose by 61% to reach 120 million.
The event inspires spectators, with 80% of viewers more likely to watch women's cycling and 69% of female fans feeling inspired to cycle more after watching. Additionally, nearly one-third of participants in L'Étape du Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift were women, highlighting increased participation.
Commercial Interest
The race has attracted significant commercial investment, reflected in the improved financial conditions for teams and riders. This investment is crucial for sustaining the growth of women's cycling. The event has seen a marked increase in audience engagement, with social impressions rising by 257% to 357 million.
Zwift, a virtual cycling platform, has been instrumental in the Tour's revival, positioning its support as part of a broader commitment to gender equity in sport.
In conclusion, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has transformed women's professional cycling by enhancing financial stability, visibility, and commercial interest, positioning the sport for sustained growth. The race has become the most-watched race in women's professional cycling, with a broadcast in 190 countries and consumption for more than 80 million viewing hours across seven key European nations in 2024 alone.
The report highlights improvements in participation, public perception, pay equity, and global visibility in women's cycling. With the 2024 women's Tour coming down to just four short seconds, the smallest margin of victory in Tour de France history, and the introduction of a ProTeam tier setting a minimum salary of €20,000, the future of women's professional cycling looks bright.
Science plays a crucial role in the advancement of women's health during sports activities. With the rise of health-and-wellness research, more studies are being conducted to understand the unique physiological demands on female athletes, ensuring proper care and preventive measures are in place.
The tour's increased visibility has spurred a growing interest in sports and health-and-wellness among women, motivating them to prioritize their wellbeing and engage in regular exercise as a means for personal growth and overall improvement in quality of life.
