A success that does not weaken

This text corresponds to part of the transcription of the report above. Click on the video to watch it in full.

It is still a dream, but in two years, it could come true. The peloton of the Tour de France female on the cobblestones of Lisieux (Calvados). Here, supporters are ready. Hélène Canu-Baratte, licensee of the city club, believes it hard as iron. “It would be a real pride. We are just fighting for female cycling and it would be a good highlighting of the city, the region and to show that little girls also have their place on a bike”she explains.

At the beginning of August, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot capsized the hearts of the French. A historical victory and an unprecedented craze around female cycling. Since this victory, the fervor has not fallen. “These are artists, you have to see the strength they have to climb the ribs. I found that it was a great show”says a passerby. “I find that they are very courageous and it is very hard. Compared to men, I find that they have the level”adds another passerby.

Lisieux has assets, it is a city of bicycle. Each year, just after the Male Tour de France, its criterium welcomes the best runners in the world. The city was one of the cities stages of the Grande Boucle in 2006 and 2011. But since then nothing. So traders already have their heads in the handlebars. “It's fantastic for the region. It is a new event that would allow us to still have other visitors concerning the bicycle”indicates a restaurateur. “If there are a lot of people coming, they will also see the shop and it will give us visibility”rejoices another shopkeeper.

To bring the tour to Lisieux is the mayor, Sébastien Leclerc, who had the idea. Former mayor of a neighboring commune, Livarot (Calvados), he has already experienced the adventure and his benefits. “It had cost the community around 120,000 euros. Amaury Sport Organization, the structure that carries the Tour de France, had done a study and the estimated direct repercussions of this morning of Tour de France in Livarot were 1 million euros”he underlines. The city hopes to welcome a departure, an arrival or both. The organization confirms the seriousness of the candidacy. It remains to be seen whether it will be integrated into the final route. Verdict in just over a year.