The race will be wide open for Ferrand-Prévot

The 2027 Tour de France Femmes route was unveiled, revealing no long climbs or individual time trial, which raises questions about whether it suits home favourite Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. This significant change from previous races is noted by Visma directeur sportif Jos van Emden, who emphasized the challenges despite the absence of lengthy ascents.

In the 2026 race, Ferrand-Prévot, who won the Tour in 2025, struggled considerably. She lost substantial time during a time trial in Dijon, which hampered her title defense. Van Emden stated, "The longest climb in this Tour is 11km. That was different in recent years. But that doesn’t mean this will be an easier Tour." Ferrand-Prévot will aim for redemption in 2027.

Race director Marion Rousse shared mixed news for Ferrand-Prévot during the route launch in Paris. Notably, the absence of an individual time trial should benefit her, as Ferrand-Prévot had lost considerable time to competitors like Demi Vollering and Marlen Reusser in that discipline. Instead, the course includes an 18km team time trial, slated as the first of its kind in Tour de France Femmes history, taking place in central London.

The introduction of a team time trial presents a novel challenge for racers like Ferrand-Prévot and her team, Visma-Lease a Bike. Van Emden voiced his support for the event, stating its importance to the Tour's format. He expressed optimism about their performance despite the lack of experience with team time trials at this level. "You have to master every discipline if you want to win the Tour. This will be another new challenge," he noted.

With no long climbs in the 2027 route, the dynamics of the race are expected to be different. Ferrand-Prévot's previous performance raises questions about her ability to reclaim the title from Vollering. Still, the absence of certain hurdles could level the playing field for her and other racers. As the competition progresses, much will depend on the racers' adaptations and strategies for the unique course.