Getty Images: Tim de Waele
This year, only three out of the nine stages of the Tour de France Femmes are being broadcast live from start to finish, leading to frustration among commentators and cycling organizations despite a significant 40 percent increase in viewership.
The concluding two stages of the Tour de France Femmes will be available for viewing on SBS and SBS On Demand on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
The leading sponsor, Zwift, has adopted a straightforward slogan for the event: “Watch the Femmes.” Overall, the data suggests that audiences are responding positively to this call.
After an exhilarating week of competition, highlighted by Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney’s impressive climb up the iconic Mont Ventoux, the top three cyclists are separated by a mere 39 seconds.
Throughout the race, six different athletes have achieved stage victories, with the overall lead changing hands three times since the first stage. Currently, Niewiadoma-Phinney, the 2024 champion, maintains a 15-second lead over Demi Vollering, whom she narrowly defeated two years ago by just four seconds.
This year’s race has certainly delivered excitement and drama; however, fans are still unable to watch the entirety of the event, as only three stages have been fully televised.
The limited live coverage remains a pressing issue for the women’s Tour de France, especially as the fifth edition of the event draws to a close in Nice this weekend. The Cyclists’ Alliance (TCA), led by Australian former world and Olympic champion Grace Brown, has been vocal in its criticism during the race.
The TCA stated in a social media post, “For the premier event in women’s cycling, partial coverage is no longer sufficient. Fans are missing out on crucial attacks, strategies, and defining moments.”
Orla Chennaoui, a broadcaster for TNT Sports in the UK, expressed her frustration more directly. In an Instagram video, she lamented, “I’m becoming increasingly frustrated. There is so much excitement and interest surrounding the Tour de France Femmes. The athletes and the competition have consistently shown the dynamic nature of this sport.”
Chennaoui noted the overwhelming enthusiasm on social media, with a surge of content celebrating the race, stating, “Despite the evident interest, we still lack comprehensive live TV coverage. ASO [Amaury Sport Organisation], what is happening? Why can’t we watch all stages live?”
She emphasized that there is a strong desire among broadcasters to provide full daily coverage, acknowledging that her comments might lead to repercussions.
In contrast, the men’s Tour de France enjoyed complete live broadcasts of all 21 stages. On the same day that only half of the women’s third stage was shown, the entire first stage of the men’s Tour de Pologne World Tour was aired in full, lasting over five hours.
The broadcast time for the Tour de France Femmes has increased to 27 hours and 40 minutes this year, which is an improvement from the previous year’s coverage.
Nevertheless, the TCA highlighted that viewership has surged from 18.3 million in 2024 to 25.7 million in 2025, asserting, “The demand is unmistakable. We urge for coverage to be enhanced.”
Prior to the third stage, won by Norway’s Sigrid Haugset following an 88km breakaway, the TCA expressed disappointment as the race’s pivotal moments were missed due to lack of camera coverage. One significant incident involved a crash by pre-race favorite Vollering, which also went unseen and could affect the competition’s outcome.
Former world champion Lizzie Deignan remarked on a podcast, “There’s no substitute for live footage. It’s essential to capture the race’s dynamics, tension, and atmosphere.”
This year’s Tour de France Femmes is being broadcast in 190 countries, including Australia via SBS. However, SBS and other international broadcasters are limited to the footage provided by France Télévisions, which manages production and distribution for ASO.
ASO also oversees the men’s Tour de France and other major cycling events, facing heavy criticism earlier this year for its limited coverage of the women’s Paris-Roubaix race.
Chennaoui commented, “The coverage of Paris-Roubaix was a step backward, regardless of what they may claim about viewer numbers. They continue to neglect women’s racing.”
Reflecting on the Tour de France Femmes, Deignan observed that the current lack of coverage harks back to the “old days” of cycling, making it challenging for fans to follow the race from home.
She noted, “It was reminiscent of the earlier times when staying updated was difficult,” lamenting the missed opportunities for viewers to engage fully with the race.
