With the professional road cycling calendar year over, teams and cyclists will be taking a much-deserved break from what was a year full of important events, including the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo and the Tour de France. However, the cycling world never stops, and going into the new season, experts have already named their frontrunners to win the 2022 edition of the French Tour. Additionally, the Tour’s organization has announced the first details about next year’s edition.
Top Contenders
Last year, cycling fans got to watch what was undoubtedly one of the most exciting Tour de France editions in recent years. From Primož Roglič’s unexpected withdrawal to Jonas Vingegaard’s surprising performance and Tadej Pogačar’s second consecutive win, there were many reasons to follow the biggest cycling competition in the world.
In the 2022 edition, the biggest question is whether Pogačar can win his third title in a row. In 2021, besides his triumph in France, he also won the UAE Tour, the Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Giro di Lombardia, and placed 3rd at the Olympic Games. The number one of the UCI World is currently the outright favorite to win the French tour again, with cycling odds from Betfair pricing to win a third title in a row at odds of 5/4.
However, closely trailing him will be his fellow countryman, Primož Roglič, who will certainly be determined to improve on his best result, an honorable second place in 2020. He is also expected to be particularly motivated after winning the Vuelta a España for the third time in a row earlier this year. Additionally, Julian Alaphilippe, Egan Bernal, and Mark Cavendish are also strong candidates to win the title.
2022 Tour: Early Details
The 109th edition of the race will be held from the 1st to the 24th of July and is set to begin with a 13 km time trial departing from Copenhagen, Denmark. In fact, the first three stages will be set in Denmark, where audiences will get to watch beautiful nordic views and even two stages set in the shoreline.
The 2022 Tour, which marks the return to the Alpe d’Huez, will feature stages set in the cobblestones of the Paris-Roubaix race and the ascent to La Planche des Belles Filles and a time trial of 40 km in the penultimate stage. The route was considered well balanced, with high mountain ascents and 53km of time trials.
Additionally, in 2022 the Tour will feature a women’s race, named Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. The inaugural edition of the race will take place after the men’s competition, beginning on the 24th of July and ending on the 31st. The race will run for roughly 1,029 kilometers divided into eight stages. The event will begin in the Eiffel Tower in Paris, while the finishing line will be located in La Planche des Belles Filles in the Vosges. It has been announced that the director of the race will be Marion Rousse, former professional cyclist, sports commentator, and the wife of elite cyclist Julian Alaphilippe.
Dutch Marianne Vos, Annemiek van Vleuten and Demi Vollering, as well as the French Elizabeth Deignan, who has just won Paris-Roubaix, are some of the favorites at the yellow shirt.
It is relevant to mention that there has already been a women’s Tour de France between 1984 and 1989. This new edition of the race comes after the classic race Paris-Roubaix held its first-ever women’s race earlier this year, which proved a great success.
With still many months to go, the next year’s Tour de France promises to be as competitive as the 2021 edition, but also a great celebration of cycling as a sport.
