Tour de France Women with Zwift 2022: the big test!

From 24 to 31 July 2022, six stages (out of the 8 on the programme) of the Tour de France Women with Zwift will pass through the Grand Est region. A great opportunity to discover or rediscover the region while following the race. For this first edition of the women's version of the Grande Boucle, after setting off from Paris and the Champs-Élysées, the riders will have the privilege of sprinting, climbing and racing from Champagne to Alsace.

While the riders pedal on and the caravan passes by, take your own tour by following our tour tips and the informed comments of the director of the Tour de France Femmes with Zwift 2022, Marion Rousse!
Inflate the tyres, grease the chains and strap on your helmets - it's off to the start!

Stage 3 Reims > Epernay:
The little queen in the "Cité des Sacres

The Reims - Épernay stage: all the way to the finishing line!

After the start under the towers of Reims cathedral, the riders leave the city of the coronation to race along the winding roads of the Champagne vineyards. Following the contours of the hillsides, they promise a few false flats and tight bends. Before entering Épernay for the last few kilometres and popping the cork, a few raidars await the participants. As Marion Rousse reminds us, it was here in 2019 that Julian Alaphilippe broke away to win the race and don his first yellow jersey. Perhaps this will give the attackers a few ideas?

Our little tour: between stones and grapes

From Reims to Épernay, a royal road from the white of the stones to the green of the vines opens up before us. We start in princely style, by pushing open the doors of Notre-Dame-de-Reims cathedral. It was here that 30 French kings were crowned. Not far from there, the splendour of the Palais de Tau and the royal treasures it contains crown this visit to Reims. A final visit to the Basilique Saint-Rémi and the colline Saint-Nicaise, two other UNESCO World Heritage sites in Reims, and the adventure to the heart of the Champagne vineyards can begin.

In this green and prosperous land, the great Champagne houses abound. Between hillsides and châteaux, it's the ideal place to enjoy a glass of wine.
To discover this Champagne terroir, we visit the Pressoria cultural centre in Aÿ-Champagne.

As we took part in a series of fun activities and immersive tours, champagne soon held no more secrets for us. Of course, after learning how this sparkling wine is made, we were keen to taste it, so we headed off to the famous Avenue de Champagne in Epernay. Along this street, some of the greatest Champagne houses have set up their headquarters and invite the curious with refined palates to visit their cellars and taste their vintages. Once the tasting is over, we drive through the Montagne de Reims Regional Nature Park, with its vineyards and forests: the perfect backdrop for a glass of bubbly!

Stage 4 Troyes > Bar-sur-Aube:
A start in Aube

The Troyes - Bar-sur-Aube stage: a milestone to remember

Leaving Troyes in the Aube region, the competitors are about to tackle some not-so-conquered terrain. Through the vineyards, the tarmac has given way to white chalk roads that are often very steep. The racers will ride for 12.9 km on these unique and emblematic Champagne tracks. As they approach Bar-sur-Aube, Marion Rousse believes the difference could well be made on one of these stony stretches. Beware of slips and dust clouds, and although the gradients are few, the stage promises to be an eventful one!

Our little tour: from glass to green!

InAube, we're getting ready to see glass and nature! In Troyes, we'll find glass in the stained glass museum and in the champagne cellars, two great regional specialities. Our exploration of Troyes continued with the medieval timber-framed houses in the town centre, before heading off to the outskirts of the town to discover the factory outlets.
We're torn between heritage and shopping! But to avoid ending up in the red, we decided to continue our journey towards the green countryside of the Auvergne. Along the way, between forests and vineyards, glass meets green and we stopped for a moment to visit a new champagne cellar.

We then followed the road to stained glass, dazzled by the craftsmanship involved. After seeing so many colours, we opted for green, the colour of the Orient Forest Regional Nature Park. Between the lakes, woods and ponds, we take the time to breathe in the fresh air of this protected reserve. After a hike, a swim and a few pretty shots, we're off for a day full of thrills at the nearby Nigloland theme park.

Stage 5 Bar-le-Duc > Saint-Dié-des-Vosges: Through Lorraine

The Bar-le-Duc - Saint-Dié-des-Vosges stage: setting the record straight

Less demanding, this stage between Bar-le-Duc and Saint-Dié-des-Vosges comes at just the right time! The terrain is relatively flat and the roads not too rough, but there's no question of resting on your laurels either! The race will be a long one (175km), with three climbs to contend with. At the end of the day, only those who have managed the day before well, without losing too many feathers, will be in with a chance of victory.

Marion Rousse: "The stage, with three climbs, will be very long through the Meuse, Meurthe-et-Moselle and Vosges departments.

Our little tour: climbing the towers

As our tour of the Grand Est continues, in Lorraine, the road takes on the air of a journey back in time. In Bar-le-Duc, we enter the heart of a Renaissance city. In front of the porch of Saint-Étienne church, under the hands of the Clock Tower, between the walls of the Château des Ducs de Bar or in the shadow of the town houses, the stage is set! And just as well, because history has always fascinated us.

The next stage of our historical journey takes us back to the Middle Ages, to Domrémy-la-Pucelle, the birthplace of Joan of Arc. Not far from there, in Vaucouleurs, there is even a museum dedicated to her. Then it's the turn of the Château de Haroué and its mirabelle plum trees, the archaeological site of Grand and its Gallo-Roman amphitheatre, and the glassworks of Vannes-le-Châtel to cross our path.

Yes, our route was not dictated by chronology! So many different eras have whetted our appetites, so we found a good restaurant in Moyenmoutier, right in the heart of Abbey country. And after a pâté lorrain, a piece of munster cheese and a slice of mirabelle plum tart, we had plenty of energy!

Stage 6 Saint-Dié-des-Vosges > Rosheim: Alsace in your sights

The Saint-Dié-des-Vosges - Rosheim stage: a gentle climb

The serious business begins on this sixth stage! The female climbers and other adventurers will be able to show the full extent of their talent on the first climbs through the Alsace vineyards. As for the sprinters, they'll have to hang on, as the final climb is 6% just before the finish in Rosheim. Fans of suspenseful races should keep an eye on the roadside: this slightly winding stage through the vineyards is likely to give rise to some great, long breakaways!

Marion Rousse's verdict: "The crossing of the Alsace vineyards won't be an easy one, and a long breakaway could well reward the daredevils at the expense of the sprinters".

Our little tour: tributes and grape varieties

While nearby, the women racers are scouring the region and the competition is raging, we've decided to celebrate peace and pay tribute to it. In Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, this quest takes the form of a large metal structure, the Tour de la Liberté: a true symbol in this region with a turbulent history. The town is also home to a sublime Vosges sandstone cathedral and a factory designed by Le Corbusier, which we were quick to immortalise. Leaving the Vosges department, we passed the Alsace-Moselle memorial and the Struthof concentration camp, two places steeped in history where we came to pay our respects.

Moved and truly touched by these visits, we decided to celebrate the rediscovered friendship between peoples. So we moved on from tributes to discovering wine varieties. From Barr to Molsheim, we followed the Alsace wine route, where cellar tours and tastings awaited us. Set against a fairytale backdrop of castle ruins and fortified towns, we end this emotionally-charged day on a sweet and sour note. With the superb Mont Saint Odile and its abbey as a backdrop, we admire the sun setting over Alsace.

Stage 7 Sélestat > Le Markstein:
On the roof of Alsace

The Sélestat - Le Markstein stage: a climber's delight!

While the previous stage gave the sprinters a hard time and began to establish a hierarchy with a view to the title, the Sélestat-Le Markstein section should almost seal the final classification. On the programme: a gentle start to Munster, followed by a climb over three of the biggest passes in the Vosges mountains: the Petit Ballon, the Col de Platzerwasel and the Grand Ballon. Between these three summits, there's little rest. So you're going to have to keep up the pace all the way to the finish line at Markstein, at an altitude of over 1000 metres: a race that's definitely made for female climbers!

Marion Rousse's verdict: "Following the ridge towards the Markstein, the road won't go back down and a great female climber is bound to be crowned champion".

Our little tour: rubbing shoulders with the summits

Perched on its rocky spur, Haut-Koenigsbourg castle has been staring down at us for some time now. So we decided to go there and take it by storm. And while the route is no mean feat, when we arrive, we're in for a surprise: the drawbridge is down and the gate is open. We would never have believed that this medieval behemoth would give us such a warm welcome. After wandering through the castle's rooms and walking along the parapet walk, taking in the superb panorama, we couldn't resist a little reward! We found it in Munster, in one of the town's cheese dairies.

And since a cheese as good as Munster accompanied by a local grape variety is even better, we set off again along the Alsace wine route towards the Alsatian villages of Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé. These two medieval towns are also famous for their Christmas markets. We'll be back for the festive season. In the meantime, we're taking advantage of the fine summer weather to set off on a hike to the highest point in Alsace: the Grand Ballon. This long walk will have taken up a lot of our energy! So to get closer to the other peaks of Alsace, such as Markstein and Hohneck, we got back in the car to take the Route des Crêtes. And given the height difference, we're glad we've got a motor!

Stage 8 Lure > la Super Planche des Belles Filles: Playing with the Ballon

The Lure - la Super Planche des Belles Filles stage: a final effort for the girls

To round off this first edition of the Tour de France for Women with Zwift, the legendary Col du Ballon d'Alsace awaits the riders. Marion Rousse reminds us that in 1905, this was the first pass crossed by the Tour. A century later, it hosted a women's cycling event for the first time. After climbing a few hills and completing this emblematic ascent of the Vosges Massif, all that remains is to ride to the finish at the summit of the Super Planche des Belles Filles. A much-anticipated finale for the director of the Tour de France Femmes with Zwift, who sees a strong girl win this final stage!

Our little tour: getting on track

To round off our tour of the Grand Est region, we thought big! First, we tackled the ascent of the Ballon d'Alsace, the region's legendary ski resort and summit. Once up there, we had a number of options for getting back down! Paragliding, summer tobogganing, mountain biking... A great way to end our trip!