'There's a real discussion to be had' – full TV coverage being considered for Tour de France Femmes, says race director

Race director Marion Rousse of the Tour de France Femmes has indicated that full TV coverage of every stage may be considered in the future, according to a recent interview with Cycling Weekly. Currently, only three of the nine stages have been granted full broadcasts, with stages one, five, and nine receiving complete coverage while the remaining six stages have had gaps in their broadcasts.

At the start of stage five in Mâcon, Rousse expressed her and ASO's "serious consideration" of fully broadcasting the race, stating that the women's Tour deserves this treatment and that it works well in terms of audience figures.

Fans and team staff have expressed frustration over partial broadcasts, such as the missed stage-winning move by Sigrid Haugset in stage three. Paula Blasi, a rider in the race, echoed this sentiment, saying that proper broadcasting could attract more public interest. Rousse acknowledged the discussions around TV coverage, noting that when the women's Tour first began in 2022, the viability of the event was in question.

However, five years later, there is now widespread interest in watching the stages in full. She has received numerous messages from cycling enthusiasts requesting full coverage.

Regarding financial constraints, Rousse admitted that resources such as production costs are a consideration in the decision-making process. She acknowledged this was a new consideration in recent years and is currently being evaluated. Rousse emphasized that the climactic moments of stages, both beginning and ending, are spectacular to watch, and she hopes that full coverage can be achieved in the future.