Vos wins La Course with perfect sprint

World champion Marianne Vos (Rabo-Liv) produced the sprint of her life to win the first-ever edition of the La Course on the Champs-Élysées, as women finally got to share the spotlight alongside the men on the final day of the Tour de France.

"La Course's really something awesome for women's cycling, but it's just one step towards the recognition we deserve. I'd like to thank the organisers again. I hope everyone who saw us today realised the peloton's getting stronger and stronger. I've already won most major races, and La Course is one I just had to add to my palmarès. It's also thanks to my team that I won today. Yet the more you win, the more you want to win."

Vos rode a clever race, letting the many attacks cancel each other out before she launched her sprint. Kirsten Wild (Giant-Shimano) got back up to the front after a late puncture and started her sprint at the same time as Vos. However, despite her superior power and sprinting skills, she could not match Vos and eased up near the line, and banged her handlebars in disappointment.

Canada's Leah Kirchmann (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) was third in the sprint, with Italy's Barbara Guarischi (Alé Cipollini) fourth ahead of her US teammate Shelley Olds.

A late crash saw French national champion Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Rabo-Liv) and Britain's Elisabeth Armitstead (Boels Dolmans) taken out of the sprint.

Round and round

The women’s return to the Tour de France - their first since 2009 - was not a stage race but one-day shot at glory, 13 laps of the well-known Champs Elysees circuit course.. Many of the top names were there, eager to shine in a race which they hope will be repeated, bigger and better, in the coming years.

The sun was shining, giving the women much better weather than the men have had much of their race. Things kicked off promptly just before 1:00 pm.

The attacks started very early, with Annemiek Van Vleuten (Rabo Liv) being one of the first to go. But the pack refused to let anyone get away, and there was never a gap of more than 20 seconds.

Elin Van Dijk (Boels Dolman), Chantal Blaak (SpecializedLuluLemon), Alena Amialiusik (Astana BePink), Rachel Neylan (Australia) all tried to jump, but none were successful.

It had been expected that the day would end in a mass sprint and about half way through the race it became clear that no one would be allowed to establish a breakaway.

Things finally picked up in the last lap. The pace increased and the field stretched out. A crash with some 4km to go took down the Mexican national champion, and the crash at the flamme rouge with Ferrand Prevot and Armitstead cut the sprinting field down to 30 or so.

As they neared the finish, there were four ahead. Wild went first, but Vos turned on the power to take the win. Kirchmann moved up to power her way into third.

 

Full Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team2:00:41
2Kirsten Wild (Ned) Team Giant - ShimanoRow 1 - Cell 2
3Leah Kirchmann (Can) Optum P/B Kelly BenefitRow 2 - Cell 2
4Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Specialized - LululemonRow 3 - Cell 2
5Shelley Olds (Usa) Ale CipolliniRow 4 - Cell 2
6Coryn Rivera (Usa) UnitedhealthcareRow 5 - Cell 2
7Jolien D'hoore (Bel) Lotto Belisol LadiesRow 6 - Cell 2
8Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica - AisRow 7 - Cell 2
9Simona Frapporti (Ita) Astana Bepink Womens TeamRow 8 - Cell 2
10Roxane Fournier (Fra) Poitou-Charentes FuturoscopeRow 9 - Cell 2
11Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Wiggle HondaRow 10 - Cell 2
12Lizzie Williams (Aus) AustralieRow 11 - Cell 2
13Fiona Dutriaux (Fra) Poitou-Charentes FuturoscopeRow 12 - Cell 2
14Elena Cecchini (Ita) Estado De Mexico FarenRow 13 - Cell 2
15Aude Biannic (Fra) FranceRow 14 - Cell 2
16Christine Majerus (Lux) Boels Dolmans Cycling TeamRow 15 - Cell 2
17Oxana Kozonchuk (Rus) RusveloRow 16 - Cell 2
18Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling TeamRow 17 - Cell 2
19Ellen Van Dijk (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cycling TeamRow 18 - Cell 2
20Chloe Hosking (Aus) Hitec ProductsRow 19 - Cell 2
21Hannah Barnes (Gbr) UnitedhealthcareRow 20 - Cell 2
22Fanny Riberot (Fra) France0:00:04
23Alena Amialiusik (Blr) Astana Bepink Womens Team0:00:06
24Sharon Laws (Gbr) Unitedhealthcare0:00:10
25Marta Tagliaferro (Ita) Ale CipolliniRow 24 - Cell 2
26Yulia Blindyuk (Rus) RusveloRow 25 - Cell 2
27Clemilda Fernandes Silva (Bra) Bizkaia-Durango0:00:20
28Lucinda Brand (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling TeamRow 27 - Cell 2
29Véra Koedooder (Ned) Bigla Cycling TeamRow 28 - Cell 2
30Sarah Roy (Aus) Poitou-Charentes FuturoscopeRow 29 - Cell 2
31Susanna Zorzi (Ita) Astana Bepink Womens TeamRow 30 - Cell 2
32Valentina Ndolara (Ita) Orica - AisRow 31 - Cell 2
33Taryn Heather (Aus) Bigla Cycling TeamRow 32 - Cell 2
34Carmen Small (Usa) Specialized - LululemonRow 33 - Cell 2
35Rachel Neylan (Aus) AustralieRow 34 - Cell 2
36Janel Holcomb (Usa) Optum P/B Kelly BenefitRow 35 - Cell 2
37Chantal Blaak (Ned) Specialized - LululemonRow 36 - Cell 2
38Romy Kasper (Ger) Boels Dolmans Cycling TeamRow 37 - Cell 2
39Amy Pieters (Ned) Team Giant - ShimanoRow 38 - Cell 2
40Janine Van Der Meer (Ned) Pays-BasRow 39 - Cell 2
41Marcia Fernandes Silva (Bra) Bizkaia-DurangoRow 40 - Cell 2
42Katarzyna Pawlowska (Pol) Boels Dolmans Cycling TeamRow 41 - Cell 2
43Emily Collins (Nzl) Wiggle HondaRow 42 - Cell 2
44Brianna Walle (Usa) Optum P/B Kelly BenefitRow 43 - Cell 2
45Elena Kuchinskaia (Rus) RusveloRow 44 - Cell 2
46Nina Kessler (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cycling TeamRow 45 - Cell 2
47Cecilie Johnsen (Nor) Hitec ProductsRow 46 - Cell 2
48Charlotte Lenting (Ned) Pays-BasRow 47 - Cell 2
49Charlotte Bravard (Fra) Poitou-Charentes FuturoscopeRow 48 - Cell 2
50Irene San Sebastian Lasa (Esp) Bizkaia-DurangoRow 49 - Cell 2
51Jade Wilcoxson (Usa) Optum P/B Kelly BenefitRow 50 - Cell 2
52Dorleta Eskamendi (Esp) Bizkaia-DurangoRow 51 - Cell 2
53Sara Mustonen (Swe) Team Giant - ShimanoRow 52 - Cell 2
54Cari Higgins (Usa) UnitedhealthcareRow 53 - Cell 2
55Liesbeth De Vocht (Bel) Lotto Belisol LadiesRow 54 - Cell 2
56Lotta Lepistö (Fin) Bigla Cycling TeamRow 55 - Cell 2
57Melodie Lesueur (Fra) FranceRow 56 - Cell 2
58Amélie Rivat (Fra) Poitou-Charentes FuturoscopeRow 57 - Cell 2
59Trixi Worrack (Ger) Specialized - LululemonRow 58 - Cell 2
60Lieselot Decroix (Bel) Lotto Belisol LadiesRow 59 - Cell 2
61Yulia Ilinykh (Rus) Bizkaia-DurangoRow 60 - Cell 2
62Chantal Hofmann (Lux) Lotto Belisol LadiesRow 61 - Cell 2
63Emilia Fahlin (Swe) Wiggle HondaRow 62 - Cell 2
64Jacqueline Hahn (Aut) Bigla Cycling TeamRow 63 - Cell 2
65Elise Delzenne (Fra) Specialized - LululemonRow 64 - Cell 2
66Audrey Cordon (Fra) Hitec ProductsRow 65 - Cell 2
67Malgorzata Jasinska (Pol) Ale CipolliniRow 66 - Cell 2
68Maaike Polspoel (Bel) Team Giant - Shimano0:00:27
69Jessie Maclean (Aus) Orica - AisRow 68 - Cell 2
70Anna Van Der Breggen (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling TeamRow 69 - Cell 2
71Iris Slappendel (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling TeamRow 70 - Cell 2
72Gracie Elvin (Aus) Orica - AisRow 71 - Cell 2
73Carlee Taylor (Aus) Orica - Ais0:00:30
74Jessica Mundy (Aus) AustralieRow 73 - Cell 2
75Amanda Spratt (Aus) Orica - AisRow 74 - Cell 2
76Charlotte Becker (Ger) Wiggle Honda0:00:39
77Emilie Moberg (Nor) Hitec Products0:00:56
78Giada Borgato (Ita) Estado De Mexico Faren0:01:02
79Eugénie Duval (Fra) France0:01:13
80Marion Sicot (Fra) FranceRow 79 - Cell 2
81Anouska Koster (Ned) Pays-BasRow 80 - Cell 2
82Ashlunn Van Baarle (Ned) Pays-Bas0:01:16
83Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) Astana Bepink Womens TeamRow 82 - Cell 2
84Emma Pooley (Gbr) Lotto Belisol LadiesRow 83 - Cell 2
85Julia Soek (Ned) Team Giant - ShimanoRow 84 - Cell 2
86Tayler Wiles (Usa) Specialized - Lululemon0:01:19
87Lauren Tamayo (Usa) UnitedhealthcareRow 86 - Cell 2
88Denise Ramsden (Can) Optum P/B Kelly BenefitRow 87 - Cell 2
89Lauren Hall (Usa) Optum P/B Kelly BenefitRow 88 - Cell 2
90Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Ale Cipollini0:01:28
91Barbara Guarischi (Ita) Ale CipolliniRow 90 - Cell 2
92Elena Berlato (Ita) Ale CipolliniRow 91 - Cell 2
93Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team0:02:21
94Elizabeth Armitstead (Gbr) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team0:03:11
95Anastasia Chulkova (Rus) Rusvelo0:04:10
DNFAnna Zita Maria Stricker (Ita) Astana Bepink Womens TeamRow 95 - Cell 2
DNFMakhabbat Umutzhanova (Kaz) Astana Bepink Womens TeamRow 96 - Cell 2
DNFJenelle Crooks (Aus) AustraliaRow 97 - Cell 2
DNFLouisa Lobigs (Aus) AustraliaRow 98 - Cell 2
DNFDesiree Ehrler (Sui) Bigla Cycling TeamRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFElke Gebhardt (Ger) Bigla Cycling TeamRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFLeire Olaberria Dorronsoro (Esp) Bizkaia - DurangoRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFAna Teresa Casas Bonilla (Mex) Estado de Mexico FarenRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFMaria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Estado de Mexico FarenRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFCarolina Rodriguez Gutierrez (Mex) Estado de Mexico FarenRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFAnna Trevisi (Ita) Estado de Mexico FarenRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFSophie Creux (Fra) FranceRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFTone Hatteland Lima (Nor) Hitec ProductsRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFElisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Hitec ProductsRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFAnisha Vekemans (Bel) Lotto Belisol LadiesRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFKirsten Coppens (Ned) NetherlandsRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFEvy Kuijpers (Ned) NetherlandsRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFPascale Jeuland (Fra) Vienne FuturoscopeRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFAlexandra Burchenkova (Rus) RusVeloRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFMaria Mishina (Rus) RusVeloRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFWilleke Knol (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFScotti Wilborne (Usa) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFBeatrice Bartelloni (Ita) Wiggle HondaRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFKathryn Bertine (Skn) Wiggle HondaRow 118 - Cell 2
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Points classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Marta Tagliaferro (Ita) Ale Cipollini32pts
2Alena Amialiusik (Blr) Astana Bepink Womens Team25Row 1 - Cell 3
3Audrey Cordon (Fra) Hitec Products16Row 2 - Cell 3
4Ellen Van Dijk (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team13Row 3 - Cell 3
5Chantal Blaak (Ned) Specialized - Lululemon8Row 4 - Cell 3
6Anastasia Chulkova (Rus) Rusvelo7Row 5 - Cell 3
7Brianna Walle (Usa) Optum P/B Kelly Benefit6Row 6 - Cell 3
8Amy Pieters (Ned) Team Giant - Shimano6Row 7 - Cell 3
9Trixi Worrack (Ger) Specialized - Lululemon5Row 8 - Cell 3
10Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Specialized - Lululemon4Row 9 - Cell 3
11Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team4Row 10 - Cell 3
12Véra Koedooder (ned) Bigla Cycling Team4Row 11 - Cell 3
13Elena Kuchinskaia (Rus) Rusvelo4Row 12 - Cell 3
14Barbara Guarischi (Ita) Ale Cipollini4Row 13 - Cell 3
15Sarah Roy (Aus) Poitou-Charentes Futuroscope3Row 14 - Cell 3
16Elise Delzenne (Fra) Specialized - Lululemon3Row 15 - Cell 3
17Anna Van Der Breggen (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team3Row 16 - Cell 3
18Iris Slappendel (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team3Row 17 - Cell 3
19Nina Kessler (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team2Row 18 - Cell 3
20Jade Wilcoxson (sa) Optum P/B Kelly Benefit2Row 19 - Cell 3
21Sara Mustonen (Swe) Team Giant - Shimano2Row 20 - Cell 3
22Jessie Maclean (Aus) Orica - Ais2Row 21 - Cell 3
23Romy Kasper (ger) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team1Row 22 - Cell 3
24Maaike Polspoel (Bel) Team Giant - Shimano1Row 23 - Cell 3
25Gracie Elvin (Aus) Orica - Ais1Row 24 - Cell 3
26Carlee Taylor (Aus) Orica - Ais1Row 25 - Cell 3
27Amanda Spratt (Aus) Orica - Ais1Row 26 - Cell 3
28Giada Borgato (Spa) Estado De Mexico Faren1Row 27 - Cell 3
29Tayler Wiles (Usa) Specialized - Lululemon1Row 28 - Cell 3

 

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