The Unwatched Rivals: Why Women’s Cycling Still Can’t Get a Fair Share of Screen Time

The Tour de France Femmes, an annual nine-stage women’s cycling event, has captivated audiences worldwide with its thrilling competitions and historic milestones. Despite growing viewership numbers – up 40% from last year’s edition, according to France Télévisions data – only three of this year’s stages have been shown live in their entirety.

The lack of comprehensive coverage raises fundamental questions about the value placed on women’s professional cycling and the sport’s long-term prospects for growth. In contrast, the men’s Tour de France has all 21 stages broadcast live. This discrepancy is not solely a technical issue; it speaks to a deeper problem within the cycling community itself.

The Cyclists’ Alliance, a union representing professional women’s riders, has been vocal about the need for improved broadcasting standards. “For the biggest race in women’s cycling, partial coverage is no longer enough,” the alliance wrote on social media. “Fans will still miss the attacks, the tactics, and the moments that could define the race.” Critics argue that the current broadcast model fails to capture the full essence of professional cycling – the drama, tension, and athleticism that make women’s racing just as compelling as its male counterpart.

Orla Chennaoui, a broadcaster who hosts coverage for TNT Sports in the UK, is one such critic. “I’m getting really annoyed now,” she said in an Instagram reel. “There’s no substitute for footage… You can’t get a feel of the race, of the tension, of the atmosphere.” The root causes of this disparity lie with the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), which handles production and distribution of both men’s and women’s Tour de France broadcasts.

The ASO has a track record on women’s cycling marred by criticism, including a lackluster broadcast of Paris-Roubaix earlier this year that saw less than 90 minutes of the three-and-a-half hour race shown. As fans, riders, and sponsors continue to rally behind the Tour de France Femmes, it is imperative that broadcasters and event organizers take concrete steps towards addressing these issues.

A new broadcasting model that prioritizes comprehensive coverage would not only enhance the fan experience but also help grow women’s professional cycling into a more prominent global sporting force. Historically, women’s sports have long struggled for fair representation on the airwaves – the Tour de France Femmes’ plight is merely the latest example in this ongoing struggle for equality and recognition.

Lizzie Deignan, a former world champion on the track and the road, noted of stage three this year: “It was very hard to follow from home… It was like being back in the old days, refreshing news feeds, trying to figure out what’s going on.” To break free from these outdated broadcasting standards, cycling’s governing bodies must work together with broadcasters and sponsors to create a more inclusive and comprehensive model for women’s professional cycling.

Until then, the Tour de France Femmes will continue to be relegated to the fringes of mainstream sports coverage – its thrilling competitions and historic milestones left largely unseen by the global audience it deserves. The Tour de France Femmes’ broadcast schedule may change from year to year, but one constant remains: the need for women’s professional cycling to be given the same level of respect and attention as its male counterpart.

As Deignan poignantly put it, “There’s no substitute for footage.” For the sake of both fans and riders alike, it is time for broadcasters and event organizers to take this fundamental truth to heart – and give women’s professional cycling the fair share of screen time it so rightly deserves.