#GAReads | Why isn't there a women's equivalent of the Tour de France?
photo credit: Markus Spiske, via Unsplash
“Why isn't there a women's equivalent of the Tour de France?”:
The roaring success of England’s Lionesses in this year’s Women’s World Cup is helping to rip apart sexism in professional sports. But another internationally renowned sporting event, beginning in July, is illustrating that further conversations are needed around the prevalence of sexism in sports.
The Tour de France is perhaps the most recognised competition in cycling, but everyone wants to know: why isn’t there a female equivalent of the big race? There was a (shorter) women’s version of the tour - the Tour de France Feminin - which ran alongside the men’s race for five years from 1984. But lack of investment and funding meant that the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), which organises the Tour de France axed it.