Marion Rousse has worn almost every hat in the cycling world. Born in northern France, she learnt to ride at the Roubaix Velodrome and went on to become national road champion in 2012. Three years later, however, at age 24 and earning no income from the sport she was working part-time at a town hall to make ends meet she retired from racing to pursue a career in media.Today, Rousse is one of the most recognisable and influential figures in the sport. Shes the voice of cycling on Frances national broadcaster, France Tlvisions, and directs the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, having spearheaded the race's highly anticipated revival since taking the reins in 2021. I was always sure of one thing with this race, she said after the first edition in 2022. Creating a womens Tour de France wasnt a gift that we were giving to womens cycling. They simply deserve it and you see the proof each day.Ahead of this year's race, we sat down with Rousse for a Q&A. How did you get into cycling? I started when I was six years old. I come from a cycling family: my dad was a high-level amateur cyclist and my cousins, Laurent and David Lefvre, were pros. As a little girl, I had a lot of energy, and I was bored of cheering on my dad from the side of the road. So I told my parents I wanted to ride myself. Initially, they werent on board because they said it was really hard for boys and would be even harder for a girl. They also said I was too young. My mum ended up taking me secretly to sign up. You went on to turn pro. What has been the proudest moment of your career? I had some amazing moments in my career, even if it was in a different era of womens cycling, when we werent paid. Winning the French national road title [in 2012] in my home region in front of my family was nice. For me, sport is the best school for life: it teaches you about discipline and pushing your limits. My time as a pro helped me get where I am today in my career. Why did you decide to retire from racing at 24?Because I wasnt paid. After I became French champion, Eurosport asked me if I wanted to try commentating on bike races. I did that for two years, but I got the feeling I wasnt giving 100% in either of the two roles. At that time, I didnt see the future of womens cycling evolving so quickly, and since I wasnt paid, I figured commentary gave me a good opportunity to stay in the industry I loved while also receiving a salary. (Image credit: Getty Images)In 2021, you became the director of the Tour de France Femmes. How did that come about? Id heard on the grapevine that they were bringing back a womens Tour de France. Then, one day, [mens race director] Christian Prudhomme called me and said, Were going to start the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. We need someone to organise it, and we want it to be you. We dont have any other names. Take some time to think about it. Of course, when someone gives you an opportunity like that, you dont have any other choice than to accept. I knew that the evolution of womens cycling would come through the Tour de France; it was the only race that could get us recognised by the masses, bring in big audiences, and attract sponsors. I told Christian, OK, lets do it. Did you have any doubts about taking on the role? Not really. Obviously its a huge role, but I knew that with ASO behind it, it would be run by experts. I also already had experience that I knew would help me in the role: as a former high-level sportsperson who knew and had lived through the past struggle of womens cycling, I was probably more able to make the right decisions at the right moments than a man who had never been part of womens cycling. I also had my media hat, and in the first few years, the race needed someone who was known to the public. It was all quite natural. You also have your family life with Julian Alaphilippe, son Nino and of course your dog Eliott. How do you find juggling everything? Its a unique lifestyle, and Ninos arrival shook up a lot of things the arrival of a baby for anyone is a big thing. We had to find a balance. Being able to count on my parents helps me a lot with fitting in all my work trips. Im very lucky to have a little boy, five years old now, who is happy and understands the situation. And Eliotts great hes so sociable, I dont even know if he knows Im his owner. He just adores everyone. (Image credit: Getty Images)Has the rapid growth of the Tour de France Femmes surprised you? The fact its been this fast, yes. I was confident, because I trusted ASO and I knew that if they put the resources in to make it work, it would be a success. Last year, Christian Prudhomme was with me at the race we did a few stages in the car together and he said, Marion, I no longer see the difference [between the mens and womens Tours] in the number of people at the side of the roads. Our big hope was that people would no longer see a mens Tour and a womens Tour, but rather the Tour de France. Do you feel pressure to grow the race every year? No, but we put pressure on ourselves to come up with an exciting route and meet the high standards of the Tour de France. It needs to be prestigious. The hardest gamble for us was making womens cycling a household topic for people, even though they didnt really get to see womens racing on TV. In the first edition, I went to speak to the wider public, and they struggled to name a single rider. Now Im really happy because everyone knows the riders; you see signs at the side of the road, and journalists talk about end-of-season transfers. Weve really overcome an obstacle and now people dont watch because its mens or womens cycling, they watch for the performances.(Image credit: Charlie Forgham-Bailey/SWpix.com)How do you respond to people who say the race should be three weeks long? Youve really got to put the race in its context: barely five years before [the race began], there were hardly any riders in the peloton who were paid. Thats very recent. The Tour de France Femmes is there to accompany the evolution of womens cycling, and we cant evolve quicker than womens cycling itself. If we do, itll implode. There was a Tour de France Femmes before us, the Grand Boucle Fminine, and it disappeared. It would be a catastrophe if, in eight years, we have to say, It doesnt work, we grew too quickly, and its all imploded. Yes, its evolving quickly, but were not at the same stature as the mens peloton yet. We also shouldnt put any barriers in our way, and one day there might be more stages, but we wont go from nine days to 21 overnight. It will need to be done little by little. The rider union The Cyclists Alliance stated in May that womens cycling is in danger and built on fragile foundations. Whats your sense of the health of the sport?Bad. We talk a lot about womens cycling, but its the same outlook on the mens side, too. At the top of the pyramid, you have the mens and womens Tours, which are very solid and attract the best riders because we have the resources to organise at this level. But its becoming difficult to organise bike races. At many levels, races are made possible by volunteers, and everything is expensive. The bottom of the pyramid is really fragile. What have been the defining moments of the first four editions of the Tour de France Femmes for you? There have been many. Weve been very lucky. Weve had four different winners and thats great. One of my favourite Tour de France Femmes memories was giving the start on the Champs-lyses [in 2022]. I popped out the roof of the car, turned around, saw the peloton with the road behind them, and knew it was a big moment for womens cycling. Then there were the four seconds that separated Kasia Niewiadoma and Demi Vollering at the summit of Alpe dHuez [in 2024]. That was a crazy scenario. And Pauline [Ferrand-Prvot]s victory last year, the first Frenchwoman to win the yellow jersey. The number of people who came out to cheer her on at the roadside, the TV audiences we had on France Tlvisions we peaked at eight million viewers, the second highest that year, including the mens race [the first was the Paris stage in Montmartre] its incredible. Pauline and I started around the same time and I know her well, so it was a nice quirk of fate. (Image credit: A.S.O./Pauline Ballet)What does it mean to have a French winner? Have you noticed more home interest in the race? Oh yes. Weve waited so long to see a French man or woman take the yellow jersey again, and now its been done. It brought together an enormous amount of people. Pauline already had a big fan base, with lots of people behind her, especially after [winning mountain bike gold at] the Paris Olympics. For the development of womens cycling, it was a steal to have her return to the road. Do you think Ferrand-Prvot will be the first person to win the race twice? I hope so for her. People have been questioning Paulines form a lot this year, saying shes not as strong as last year, but I think shes on the same trajectory Im not too worried for her. She has this ability to fix an objective in the year, and arrive 100% ready. Shell be very strong. That said, its true that Vollering has taken a step up. I think the level has improved since last year. Youve also got riders like [Vuelta Femenina winner] Paula Blasi, who will be interesting to follow, and Marlen Reusser, with the time trial. I think it will be a bit closer than last year, but I still believe in Pauline. Quickfire roundWhat was your first bike? It was a black Alan road bike with downtube shifters. Who was your childhood cycling hero? When I was really young, I loved Erik Zabel. Then when I grew up a bit I was a Tom Boonen fan. Whats your favourite place to ride? Now, with my lower level, I like going to Calpe [in Spain]. Its a bit hilly, but you dont have to climb mountains. The south of France and the Alps are also great. Your favourite Monument? Paris-Roubaix. Your favourite type of stage: mountains, sprint or breakaway? Not sprints, especially when I commentate on them for seven hours and nothing happens! High-mountain stages are always great. But as a commentator, youre always less disappointed with the Classics-y stages, where theres a fight from the beginning, compared to the high mountains. With those, you know youre going to have a good afternoon in front of the TV. Your favourite mountain in France? I love Mont Ventoux. Ive climbed it five times. Your favourite sport after cycling? I really like following biathlon and athletics. But especially biathlon, because its in the winter and theres no cycling to watch. Whos the next star of womens cycling? Clia Gery. What do you do to relax? I go through real on-off periods, so when Im at home, Im a real mother hen. I love going for walks or to restaurants with my son. This feature originally appeared in Cycling Weekly magazine on 30 July 2026. Subscribe now and never miss an issue.