Tour de France makes the first move away from Podium Girls

The Tour de France plans to do away with “podium girls,” the longstanding but controversial tradition in which models present awards and pose with winners after each stage of the race.

Podium girls, are a common sight in pro cycling. Attractive women stand on either side of the winner, each giving him a kiss on the cheek makes for photo-ready moments that appear across the media of every stage.

However, due to current trends and accusations of sexism and explotation of the women, races are removing the podium girls. 

The Vuelta a España became the first Grand Tour race to end the tradition last year, and the trend has spread across other sports including motor racing. Even the UK’s Professional Darts Corporation has moved away from using women.

Smaller races, including Australia‘s Tour Down Under, have ditched podium girls in favor of junior racers and other presenters. The Cyclocross World Cup in Iowa City relies on young fans to give out awards.

Vocal pro mountain biker Amanda Batty referred to podium girls as “sexual placeholders” whose “jobs relied solely on the assumed idea that only straight men participated and spent money inside of that sport.”

Organizers for the Tour de France say they will likely follow suit this summer.