The women’s Tour de France will be held for the first time in 33 years, organisers have announced.

Called the Tour de France Femmes, it will begin on the day that the men’s Tour ends on July 24, 2022, and will finish on July 31.

Organisers have also confirmed the route for the eight stage ride.

The race will begin in Paris and conclude at the top of the Super Planche des Belles Filles climb.

Speaking to Sky News, race director Marion Rousse described it as a “balanced route” that would “suit several types of riders”.

Also speaking to Sky News, Christian Prudhomme, the director of the men's Tour de France, said the biggest challenge was to make the race a financially sustainable event.

He added: "If it had been [sustainable], the women's Tour would have been held for 40 years.

"The biggest challenge is to broadcast the race. I think we've done a good job, with the race starting the same day as the men's race ends in Paris."

The race will be broadcast in 170 countries and will commence two weeks after the end of the longest women's race on the calendar, the Giro Donne.

What will the Tour de France Femmes route be?

  • July 24 Stage One:  Paris Tour Eiffel - Champs Elysees (82km)
  • July 25 Stage Two:  Meaux - Provins (135km)
  • July 26 Stage Three: Reims - Epernay (133km)
  • July 27 Stage Four: Troyes - Bar sur Aube (126km)
  • July 28 Stage Five: Bar le Duc - St Die des Vosges (175km)
  • July 29 Stage Six: St Die des Vosges - Rosheim (128km)
  • July 30 Stage Seven: Selestat - Le Markstein (127km)
  • July 31 Stage Eight: Lure - La Super Planche des Belles Filles (123km)