“Too many women put barriers to the practice of cycling”, regrets Audrey Cordon-Ragot

The multiple champion of France climbed Mont Ventoux on Monday, in the company of six other runners, to highlight female cycling, whose Tour de France will start on July 26.

The male peloton was not the only one to climb the Provence giant during this edition. Seven runners have indeed produced the 16th stage between Montpellier and Mont Ventoux in order to “to accompany the ascent of female cycling”, Monday, July 21, on the initiative of the partner Krys. We found in particular Audrey Cordon-Ragot, multiple champion of France, or Marine Leleu, athlete and influencer in the world of cycling and triathlon.

Mont Chauve will not be on the program for the 2025 edition of the Tour de France women, which will still climb the Col de la Madeleine and that of Joux-Plane. But the passage of men in this legendary collar of Provence was an opportunity to show that their female counterparts could also tame it. “The idea was to prove that we can do it. I did the Tour de France three times, and we set up big passes, the Tourmalet, the Alpe d'Huez last year. The Ventoux is part of the list of large passes, We would like him to be on the program and I think it's in the boxes “anticipates Audrey Cordon-Ragot.

By taking advantage of the Tour de France resonance fund, neo-retired Also wishes to alert on access to cycling for women: “I think there are too many women today who put themselves barriers to cycling, which is still a somewhat deserted sport “continues the seven-time French champion of the time trial. An opinion shared by Marie Patouillet, Paralympic champion of C5 pursuit in Paris in 2024, who joined the group at the foot of the Ventoux to climb: “Il There’s nothing to do with you to equip yourself. Even if now there are more and more brands that make thighs, bikes adapted to women, there are much less choice to dress when you are a woman. It was important to participate in this event precisely to take the place and show that we exist “continues the one who also earned money over 500 m C4-5 at the Games de Paris.

The recent renaissance of the Tour de France women, who continues to seduce, propelled female cycling into a new dimension. But this boom has not yet strewn until the bottom for Audrey Cordon-Ragot. “We lack a lot of advice for women: how to equip ourselves, where to start simply. I think it scares and it does not touch the audience of active women, who, precisely, does not want to” waste “your time. So we take running shoes, shorts, a t-shirt and we will run. The accessibility of the bicycle is still too difficult.If during your vacation you want to rent a bicycle at the foot of the Ventoux and get it up, it is possible. '“

“In France there is still a rule of 80-20. We are 85% for men in media coverage, 15% for women. In sponsorship, 80% of funding is for men, 20% for women.”

Marie Patouillet, Paralympic champion of cycling on track 2024

In Franceinfo: Sport

With an increasing media coverage but still too uneven like the point of Marie Patouillet, the objective of this day, in which Nikola Karabatic and Sarah Ourahmoune also participated (only for the ascent), is to encourage the general public to try it. “I think the bike is still too seen as a competition sport. And not a fair sport of fulfillment “summarizes Audrey Cordon-Ragot. “Il It is time to reverse the trend, in any case to rebalance the vases. And to show, even if it was not a matter of timing, that women can do it too “concludes Marie Patouillet.