THE Tour de France are planning to end the use of podium girls from this year.
Traditionally stage winners have been greeted at the end of each day by models who present him with the yellow jersey and shower him with kisses.
But organisers are set to follow in the lead of sports like Formula One and darts by deciding to stop using women as glamour girls.
The Times say race officials have held extensive talks about ditching the use of the ladies, who flank the winner on the podium each day.
They are as much a recognised part of the Tour as the cycling itself – but bosses believe the time has come to end the practice.
Like those in charge of darts and F1, they believe the use of scantily clad women to promote their events is becoming outdated.
So they are set to make a ruling that none will be used at this year’s Tour, which begins in Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile on July 7.
If they do so, they will follow La Vuelta in becoming the second major cycling race to ditch the use of the models.
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Darts was the first sport to decide to ditch podium girls, when the Professional Darts Council made the move at the end of the world championship in January.
The decision was criticised by the podium girls who lost their jobs, claiming they were being denied work because of the demands of feminists.
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But darts was swiftly followed by Formula One, who also announced in January that grid girls would not be on show in the upcoming 2018 season.
That announcement was welcomed by equality groups as a step forward, although others claimed it was denying females the choice and opportunity to work.
Yet the overall clamour for sport to catch up with modern thinking continues to gather pace
and Tour organisers feel they need to act accordingly.
But though some sports seem ready to accept the time for change has come, it is unlikely boxing or Mixed Martial Arts will follow.
Both regularly use scantily clad ring girls at their events, and neither have shown a willingness to make any changes to their usual plans.
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