"Frauenfeld in Frauenfeld" - a campaign for a women's Tour de Suisse is being launched with this slogan. It is a cry for help at the last moment. The organisers of the Tour de Suisse would like to launch the premiere of a women's race at the Tour of Switzerland this year. However, it is not only the uncertain situation in times of the pandemic that is putting the brakes on the innovation - but also the unsecured funding and lack of political backing. "We have no money - but we want to finally bring the Tour de Suisse Women to life," emphasised Thomas Peter, Managing Director of Swiss Cycling. The association's most important advocate was its current outstanding athlete: Jolanda Neff, multiple world champion on the mountain bike, who also competed successfully in road races for several years. "It's a very important topic. You always hear about equality - but in road cycling, women's cycling is lagging far behind," said the 28-year-old at the online press conference, adding: "It's a big goal for me to compete at some point." This year, however, Neff is prioritising her Olympic start in Tokyo.
The project should have been made public some time ago - however, the Swiss Cycling Federation Swiss Cycling is still waiting for repayment of funding from last year's cancelled Road World Championships in Aigle and Martigny. Up to 4.5 million Swiss francs are said to be outstanding from payments to the World Championship organising committee and the world federation. Originally, the recovery was to be completed by January 2021. Negotiations are still ongoing. The organiser is currently lacking around 300,000 Swiss francs to hold the event, which according to race director Olivier Senn requires a budget of around 500,000 euros. In the coming days, the Federal Council in Switzerland will now decide on possible financial support for the new event.
If the premiere takes place in 2021, two stages of the women's race around Frauenfeld are planned for 5 and 6 June. The men's Tour de Suisse starts on 6 June in Frauenfeld and runs over eight stages. The women's stage race is to be extended to three to five days in the future, according to the plans.
National Councillor Aline Trede said at the media event that the possible premiere of the women's race at the Tour of Switzerland would fit in with another anniversary: "We have had women's suffrage in Switzerland for 50 years. 2021 is a women's year!"
In order to gain a tailwind for the Federal Council's approval in the coming days, an online petition has been launched at the Internet address www.tourdesuissewomen.ch started.
