Tour de France Femmes hits record viewership amid prize money gap

The 2026 Tour de France Femmes, won by Demi Vollering, achieved record-breaking viewership in France. According to France Télévisions, the race reached an average audience share of 32.9%, with 23.2 million viewers tuning in for at least one minute. This performance closely approaches the men's Tour de France average share of 35.1%.

Despite high engagement, significant disparities remain. The total prize pool for the women's race was 260,750 euros, compared to over 2.3 million euros for the men. Additionally, while the men's race received full coverage, only one of the nine stages of the women's race was broadcast in its entirety.

The event also faced social challenges. FDJ United-SUEZ manager Stephen Delcourt reported that several riders, including Célia Gery and Evita Muzic, faced online harassment and death threats following controversial race maneuvers or performance fluctuations. Vollering defended her teammates, describing the online vitriol as a symptom of a “sick world.”