The Tour de Femmes is here! (2024)

This is Bridie O’Donnell’s third year commentating the Tour de France for SBS, but only her first actually on the ground, reporting live from Europe. You can blame the pandemic for that.

“We are so excited — we’re leaving this weekend,” O’Donnell told Today, ahead of her trip a few weeks ago. Like the rest of us she was stuck at home as the past two Tours took place and she was understandably excited to get over to Europe as this one kicked off.

“Le Grand Depart for the men’s race will be in Copenhagen, so we will have a few days there before Team Presentation, then stage one kicks off on Friday, July 1,” she explains.

O’Donnell joins Aussie cycling champ Simon Gerrans and Matthew Keenan, who this year celebrates his 16th year commentating the Tour.

They’ve been front and centre as the action has unfolded. And now they’re all in pole position to bring us all the action as the very first Women’s Tour event starts.

The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is an eight-stage race, and will see some of the world’s top female riders take to the roads on a course every bit as challenging as the one that preceded it, riding from July 24 right through to the end of the month.

O’Donnell, herself an ex-professional road racing cyclist, couldn’t be more excited.

“People are calling this the inaugural Women’s Tour de France, but in fact there have been some versions of a women’s Tour de France in the past,” she explains. “It’s not 21 stages yet, it’s eight, but it’s massive in it’s own way, because of what it will change.

“The fact there will be multiple countries broadcasting it like we are, the fact it will be beamed live into the living rooms of billions of people — that’s the game changer. Because people, cycling fans around the world, will get to see (world class riders) like Elisa Longo Borghini, and Grace Brown and Annemiek van Vleuten — the best women in the world — right there on their screens. Every single kilometre of it.”

O’Donnell admits that as a former professional rider she would have loved the opportunity to compete. But the next best thing will be commentating the race.

For this she will be joined by two-time national road champion and founding member of the first-ever independent international women’s cycling union Gracie Elvin. Reporting on location will be former Giro d’Italia stage winner and longstanding SBS presenter, David McKenzie, as well as SBS French Radio’s Christophe Mallet.

Australians are in with a good chance across the board this year. So why are we all of a sudden doing so well?

“My question for you is what is going on in the water with WA, because there are some very, very good performances coming from Perth riders,” O’Donnell says, pointing to high profile rider Jai Hindley’, who recently took out the Giro d’Italia.

“But I think we have always been doing well. Australia, as you would know, we have very high standards when it comes to international sport, even though our population and our geography could advise otherwise.”

The Aussies to watch this year, according to O’Donnell, are Ben O’Connor and Jack Haig.

“They are the two names you have to watch out for in the men’s Tour de France,” she explains.

As for the women, O’Donnell says she’s just excited they’ll finally be getting the recognition, coverage and exposure they deserve.

“It’s really exciting,” she says.

After the Tour wraps up, O’Donnell will spend some time holidaying in Corsica, enjoying a much-needed break.

“I had never seen any of Corsica, and then when the Tour de France went there a few years ago, the images were so amazing,” she explains.

“In a way, this is what the Tour de France does for so many of us — it creates the most magnificent three-week postcard of one of the most beautiful countries in the world.”

The Tour de France Femmes start on July 24. Check the SBS website for details.