No Women In Tour De France

[indysteel]

I can't think of a single pro sport where men and women compete against one another.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_d...e_F%C3%A9minin

There are women in both Indy car and Nascar who compete against men. And there are a few other sports like dressage where women and men compete against one another. But it's not the norm for sure.

[lovelygamer]

Yep, they already answered it. It's a men's race because women just can't compete at the level the men can, mostly a strength and fitness issue. Sponsors want to sponsor winners and sponsors are what it's all about. Some say, if the race was longer...women would win. That's when their real advantages and strengths come into play.

They have a few women's races like it. Here is a small non competitive one that is running this year at the same time: http://www.reve.cc/

[kamikazejane]

They have a few women's races like it. Here is a small non competitive one that is running this year at the same time: http://www.reve.cc/

That's awesome. Mucho Kuddos to them.

[gnat23]

They have a few women's races like it. Here is a small non competitive one that is running this year at the same time: http://www.reve.cc/

I've been watching my friend Heidi get ready for this, all the training, panic, and adrenaline that has come with it. She's been writing for Peloton magazine the whole time, which is a new kind of hell: Ride 130 km, THEN be eloquent in prose? Wow.

http://www.pelotonmagazine.com/Wisdo.../Swift-Stage-4

It's not a race, but the women are riding the whole stage the day prior to the men. The miles and emotions are very much real and her stories and tweets have been putting the TdF in quite a different perspective for me.

-- gnat! (GO HEIDI GO!)

[jobob]

She's been writing for Peloton magazine the whole time, which is a new kind of hell: Ride 130 km, THEN be eloquent in prose? Wow.

Wow indeed. That's a fascinating read, thanks pll and gnat!

[lovelygamer]

I've been watching my friend Heidi get ready for this, all the training, panic, and adrenaline that has come with it. She's been writing for Peloton magazine the whole time, which is a new kind of hell: Ride 130 km, THEN be eloquent in prose? Wow.

http://www.pelotonmagazine.com/Wisdo.../Swift-Stage-4

It's not a race, but the women are riding the whole stage the day prior to the men. The miles and emotions are very much real and her stories and tweets have been putting the TdF in quite a different perspective for me.

-- gnat! (GO HEIDI GO!)

That is awesome! GO Heidi is right. The ladies came up on my radar because I am in the National Bike Challenge and Kate Powlison came up on the top of our leader board a week or so ago. Those girls are amazing. I am going to look at your link later. Thanks!!

PS. Have you girls been following Larissa on the Big Ride? Her facebook posts and pictures have been great. What a great life experience she is having.

[velo]

Women have their own pro circuit and really, when watching any sport, the most exciting events to watch are when people are evenly matched. I wouldn't want to watch a mixed event. Most people wouldn't because they like to watch fierce competition. And when people don't watch, the "pro" in pro cycling no longer exists because the riders are just two-legged advertisements. The advertising companies want the most bang for their buck. Just look at Trek sales (and the Madone in particular) because of Lance.

But really, as someone mentioned above, men are just much stronger riders. It doesn't diminish what women are capable of, it's just different.