On Sunday, French cyclist Pauline Ferrand-Prévot won the Tour de France Femmes. Yes, women do have their own Tour, and this year’s edition was arguably more fun to watch than the men’s, which turned into a one-man show with little suspense. Despite unprecedented enthusiasm, there's still a striking gap between the two.

The men’s Tour is an institution in France. Every July, 12 to 15 million people line the roads, and it’s the second most-watched sporting event in the world (after the football World Cup). It's a cash machine for sponsors, with three weeks of wall-to-wall coverage.

The women’s Tour? It lasts nine days instead of 21, and only recently began receiving full live broadcasts (though not for every stage). The total prize money is €264,000, with €50,000 for the winner. For comparison: Tadej Pogačar, this year's male winner, went home with €627,730.

Cycling still lags behind other sports in gender equality. The pay gap is far worse than in tennis, athletics, or skiing, where prize money is mostly equal.

It’s also one of the few sports that systematically shortens women’s races, reducing media exposure and commercial interest for sponsors. Equipment is another issue: from saddles to bikes to clothing, most gear is still designed for male bodies.

But the surge in excitement in France for this year's women's race, with record TV audiences and packed crowds along the roads, shows that the momentum is there. Now it’s up to organisers and sponsors to catch up.