The International Cycling Union (UCI) is hopeful it can convince Tour de France organisers to hold a women’s equivalent that will boost the sport, its president David Lappartient has said.

Women riders currently participate in La Course, a one-day competition during the Tour and this year’s edition is a 121-km circuit race around Pau in southwestern France before the men begin stage 13 on Friday.

Frenchman Lappartient said that he had held discussions with organisers Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) to increase the event to 10 stages in future and match the ongoing Giro Rosa, one of the main races in women’s road cycling.

“What’s missing in our sport is a big stage race for women that can be seen worldwide. The Tour de France can really help with this,” Lappartient told BBC Radio 5 Live.

The 46-year-old said he would continue fighting for a women’s Tour and hoped ASO would overcome logistical hurdles that prevent a longer race during the men’s race.

Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Show all 52 1 /52 Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France 2019 Tour de France The route from Brussels to Paris, via the Pyrenees and the Alps, in what has been dubbed "the highest race in history". letour Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 1, Grand Depart – Brussels (194.5km, flat) After Dylan Groenewegen crashed in the final 2km, his Jumbo-Visma teammate Mike Teunissen took up the charge and pipped Peter Sagan on the line to win both the stage and the yellow jersey. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 1 Mike Teunissen, right, edges out Peter Sagan on the finish line. EPA Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 2 – Brussels (27.6km, team time-trial) Team Ineos set the early pace but Jumbo-Visma produced a stunning ride to double down their control of the yellow jersey. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 2 Team Ineos finished second in the team time-trial. Reuters Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 3 – Binche to Epernay (215km, hilly) Julian Alaphilippe's late surge earned him an impressive stage win and the first chance to wear the yellow jersey in his career. letour Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 3 Julian Alaphilippe celebrates on the finish line. Getty Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 4 – Reims to Nancy (213.5km, flat) The sprinters got themselves in position and Quick-Step's Elia Viviani came out on top on the streets of Nancy. letour Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 4 Elia Viviani crosses the finish line to win stage four. EPA Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 5 – Saint-die-des-Vosges to Colmar (175.5km, hilly) Bora-Hansgrohe worked as a team to carry Peter Sagan over the rolling Vosges hills and into the finish where he was too strong for the rest. letour Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 5 Peter Sagan celebrates his triumph on the finish line. Getty Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 6 – Mulhouse to La Planche des Belles Filles (160.5km, mountainous) Dylan Teuns held on to win an epic stage as Giulio Ciccone finished second and claimed the yellow jersey. Geraint Thomas impressed, finishing fourth. letour Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 6 Dylan Teuns wins the sixth stage. Getty Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 7 – Belfort to Chalon-sur-Saone (230km, flat) The longest stage was not a thriller, but Dylan Groenewegen impressed as he clinched the sprint finish. letour Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 7 Dylan Groenewegen won the seventh stage. Getty Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 8 – Macon to Saint Etienne (200km, hilly) Thomas De Gendt stormed to a memorable solo victory, holding off the chase of Julian Alaphilippe and Thibaut Pinot by a few seconds. letour Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 8 Thomas De Gendt reacts to his victory on the finish line in St Etienne. Getty Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 9 – Saint Etienne to Brioude (170.5km, hilly) Daryl Impey clinched his first Tour de France stage. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 9 Daryl Impey on the winners' podium. AP Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 10 – Saint Flour to Albi (217.5km, flat) The wind caused chaos in the peloton as Wout van Aert sprinted to victory. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 10 Wout van Aert celebrates his victory on stage 10. AP Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 11 – Albi to Toulouse (167km, flat) Caleb Ewan pipped Dylan Groenewegen on the finish line. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 11 Caleb Ewan celebrates on the podium. Getty Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 12 – Toulouse to Bagneres de-Bigorre (209.5km, mountainous) Simon Yates surged to victory to complete the set of Grand Tour wins. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 12 Simon Yates clinches the victory on stage 12. Getty Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 13 – Pau to Pau (27.2km, individual time-trial) A little lumpy but no serious climbs, meaning the best pure time-triallists – Rohan Dennis, Serge Pauwels, Bob Jungels – will be eyeing the chance to win a stage. letour Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 13 – Pau to Pau (27.2km, individual time-trial) Stage profile. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 13 – Pau to Pau (27.2km, individual time-trial) Final kilometre. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 14 – Tarbes to Tourmalet Bareges (117.5km, mountainous) One of the most eye-catching stages of the Tour, with the Col du Soulor draining the legs before the legendary Col du Tourmalet, with a summit finish where all the big climbers – like Geraint Thomas, Vincenzo Nibali, Nairo Quintana – will all want to claim a famous victory. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 14 – Tarbes to Tourmalet Bareges (117.5km, mountainous) Stage profile. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 14 – Tarbes to Tourmalet Bareges (117.5km, mountainous) Final kilometre. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 15 – Limoux to Foix (185km, mountainous) One of the toughest days of the Tour, with more hard climbing and more tests for those in the hunt for the yellow jersey. The final 75km contains three category one climbs, finishing atop Prat d'Albis. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 15 – Limoux to Foix (185km, mountainous) Stage profile. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 15 – Limoux to Foix (185km, mountainous) Final kilometre. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 16 – Nimes (177km, flat) Some relief for weary legs as the peloton comes down from the mountains to take a far more leisurely ride around the south of France. The flat finish into Nimes, where the stage also starts, is tempting for any sprinters who survived the Pyrenees, if their team can carry them to the front of the race. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 16 – Nimes (177km, flat) Stage profile. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 16 – Nimes (177km, flat) Final kilometre. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 17 – Pont du Gard to Gap (200km, hilly) A first taste of the Alps. Through the Rhone Valley and on to Gap, this is not an easy stage with plenty of gentle but long inclines and the sharp Col de la Sentinelle inside the final 10km which stands between any breakaway and a stage victory. letour Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 17 – Pont du Gard to Gap (200km, hilly) Stage profile. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 17 – Pont du Gard to Gap (200km, hilly) Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 18 – Embrun to Valloire (208km, mountainous) This is likely to be a decisive day in the battle for the yellow jersey, with the famous Col de Vars, Col d'Izoard and Col du Galibier, all peaking above 2,000m. They are long and steep, with fast technical descents, and the winner of this Tour de France is going to have to withstand plenty of pressure on this day. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 18 – Embrun to Valloire (208km, mountainous) Stage profile. letour Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 18 – Embrun to Valloire (208km, mountainous) Final kilometre. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 19 – Saint-Jean-de-Mauruenne to Tignes (126.5km, mountainous) A shorter day but still difficult, with a summit finish in Tignes coming after the monstrous Col de l'Iseran, the highest paved road in Europe. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 19 – Saint-Jean-de-Mauruenne to Tignes (126.5km, mountainous) Stage profile. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 19 – Saint-Jean-de-Mauruenne to Tignes (126.5km, mountainous) Final kilometre. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 20 – Albertville to Val Thorens (130km, mountainous) The final Alpine stage is another brutal one, with the huge 33.4km drag up to Val Thorens to finish once again above 2,000m for the third time in this Tour, something never done before. This is a Tour de France which will be won in the clouds around the Alps, and if the yellow jersey can beat his rivals to Val Thorens he will have clinched the race victory. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 20 – Albertville to Val Thorens (130km, mountainous) Stage profile. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 20 – Albertville to Val Thorens (130km, mountainous) Final kilometre. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 21 – Rambouillet to Champs-Elysees (128km, flat) The procession to Paris will offer any remaining sprinters one last chance for glory, and the opportunity for the race winner to sip champagne after a tough three weeks. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 21 – Rambouillet to Champs-Elysees (128km, flat) Stage profile. Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France Stage 21 – Rambouillet to Champs-Elysees (128km, flat) Final kilometre.

“One day of racing is clearly not enough for women ... if we want a women’s Tour de France, we can,” Lappartient added.

“For women’s cycling we can continue to push -- I’ve had strong discussions with (ASO) and I hope we can reach an agreement for the future.”

British cyclist Sarah Storey said La Course, which was introduced in 2014, felt like a “token gesture”.

The Tour de France could have a female race soon (REUTERS)

“I imagined the race might grow ... until it became a fully-fledged women’s Tour. It’s fair to say that’s not happened,” she wrote in a column for The Telegraph.