Cycling: The Tour de France is the largest cycling race in the world. Today the women were also allowed to join "La Course by the Tour de France" enjoy the limelight of the Grand Tour - and they jumped at the chance! In an incredibly exciting race, Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott) secured victory in Le Grand Bornand. The Dutchwoman was able to overtake her compatriot Anna van der Breggen (Boels-Dolmans) in the last ten meters, after trailing her the entire descent five to ten seconds behind.
Annemiek van Vleuten achieves an incredible finish
When the men saddle up at 13:15 p.m., the women have already crossed the finish line. Today the women had to cover 112,5 kilometers from Annecy to Le Grand Bornand. A large part of the route was congruent with the men's course. The last two climbs, the Col de Romme and the Col de la Colombière, also had to be completed at the end. The race as part of the UCI Women's WorldTour should be one of the most exciting in recent years. In the final climb Anna van der breggen (Boels-Dolmans) by her companions Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott) and Ashleigh moolman (Cervélo-Bigla) loosen. She crossed the summit with only a few seconds left. On the descent everything looked as if she could keep her lead and even extend it slightly. Only in the last 100 meters did Annemiek van Vleuten jump past her compatriot.
La Course by le Tour de France since 2014
While the men are in the public eye on 21 stages of the Tour de France, there is unfortunately no Tour of France for the women. For some years, however, under the name "La Course by the Tour de France" Ride stages in women's cycling. It all started on the final stage of the 2014 Tour de France. A circuit race was held on the traditional course on the Champs-Élysées. At that time she was Dutch Marianne Vos successful. In 2015 her compatriot won Anna van der Breggen 2016 the Australian Chloe Hosking and last season the Dutchwoman Annemiek van Vleuten. In general, the organizers Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) want to take women's cycling to a new level, which seems to be gradually succeeding.
⏪ Relive the last kilometer of @LaCoursebyTDF and the incredible victory of @AvVleuten! ????
⏪ Revivez the last kilometer @LaCoursebyTDF et l'incroyable victoire de @AvVleuten ! ????#LaCourse @FDJsport pic.twitter.com/w0ia47bD7h— La Course by Le Tour (@LaCoursebyTDF) July 17, 2018
Trek-Segafredo forms new women's team
In addition to La Course by le Tour de France, women's cycling can look forward to more positive news. At the first rest day not only had the team BMC News in stock. That too Team Trek Segafredo had news to announce: Starting next season, there will be a Trek-Segafredo women's team. The first commitment is already in the bag: the former world champion is driving after her baby break Elizabeth Deignan (Boels-Dolmans) for the newly formed team. Also in talks for the coming season are Ellen van Dijk (Sunweb), Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle-High5) and Audrey Cordon-Ragot (Wiggle-High5).
#ICYMI @TrekBikes creates a new professional women's road team for 2019 with the intent of racing the UCI Women's World Tour. The team will be led by @lizziedeignan! https://t.co/EdKLL7iRfO pic.twitter.com/GmooVhuk0S
- Trek-Segafredo (@TrekSegafredo) July 16, 2018
[…] Tour stage of the men, the women deliver a race. If this is only half as exciting as last year, it is definitely worth watching […]