Many cycling enthusiasts are currently filled with anticipation. On Sunday, not only will the @letourdefrance champion be crowned on the iconic Champs Élysée, but @letourfemmes will kick off – marking the first time in 33 years that a women’s race will be included in this iconic event. Because of this, cycling’s biggest day will now also represent a long-awaited victory for female cyclists. We can only hope that the next 8 days will be a catalyst for getting more women on bikes. We know that gender has a big influence on people’s likelihood of cycling – in the US, women on average take just 24% of all bicycle trips, despite taking about half of all trips using other modes of transportation. Similarly, research in the UK has found that women are about half as likely to cycle as men. Why? Research suggests that safety while cycling (actual and perceived) is likely a major factor in explaining this gap. For instance, Strava Metro data tell us there has been a 570% increase in the number of bicycle trips taking place along the Rue du Rivoli in central Paris – a street that has seen a major change in safe infrastructure investment and is a great example of “if you build it, people will come!” Furthermore, the data also shows that there was an 80% increase in the number of female cyclists on the route. While improvements to safety infrastructure is a step in the right direction, the disparity that currently exists will certainly require a truly intersectional approach to change. We still have a long way to go to reduce the gender gap when it comes to cycling, but seeing the best female cyclists racing on the world’s biggest stage tomorrow is sure to have a positive effect! Just as we did for the men’s race, we’ll be sharing pro uploads, stage insights and official Tour challenges throughout the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Use the link in our bio to check it out! 📸: @danielhughesuk