Ekimov heads women's team in Route de France

Former Discovery Channel pro rider Viatcheslav Ekimov, who is still involved with the team, will be directeur sportif for the women's team USC Chirio Forno Asolo in the upcoming La Route de France Féminine. The second edition of this race starts this Saturday, August 11, and runs through the 18th.

The prologue on Saturday kicks the week long race off with 2.2 mostly flat kilometres. After a few rolling stages that aren't particularly flat but also don't have climbs reaching too high, the end of next week will likely see the overall decided with stages in the Vosges mountain range in the Alsace offering something for the mountain goats.

Fabiana Luperini, winner of multiple Giri d'Italia and Tours de France for women, will be riding the event. In order to beat the Italian superstar, the Americans are sending a strong team around Amber Neben.

Other national teams include the squads of Australia, New Zealand, Ukraine and of course the host, France.

Ekimov's job will be to lead the Lithuanian twins, Rasa and Jolanta Polikeviciute, to overall victory on the French roads.