While many people might refer to the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift as the first of its kind, this race is, in fact, not the first time women have raced the Tour de France. The first edition of a women’s Tour de France dates back to 1984. That first race ran alongside the men’s for 18 stages and was won by American rider Marianne Martin. However, Martin almost missed out on the race that would cement her place in history. Earlier that year, she had begun to struggle in training. “I got to training camp and we started training really hard,” she recalls. “I have this blood condition that I didn't know about [at the time], but I would get really anemic, and so I was just going backwards in January and February.” She struggled to finish races right up until May of 1984 before turning things around. “I trained really smart,” she says. Martin attributes her success to the underrated resource that is rest. Prior to the race, she says, “I did fewer miles than anybody I know ... I didn't know until a week or 10 days before the race started that I was on the team. I was the last one chosen.” Remembering what it was like to race in France, Martin says “I wish I could be more descriptive than ‘amazing’. It wasn't like anything that I'd ever done before.” “In France, the enthusiasm for the sport is just so effusive and inspiring, and it was just giving autographs constantly and people loved it.” Martin is looking forward to being at this year’s Tour and has planned to meet up with other women who raced during the same era. “It will be fun to share stories and stuff...I'm excited to see them.” How does she feel about coming full circle as she returns to the site of that historic win? “I haven't really thought about it a lot,” she says. “I mean ... I'm so glad they're having women, and I'm so glad I get to go. But I haven't felt the emotions that much. But I will.” “I'm just excited to feel the energy of European bike racing, and that energy and to see that support for women that I think has been long overdue.” This weekend the women are back and @letourfemmes returns for a new generation. Join us as we #StriveForMore through the link in our bio.