La Course by Le Tour de France 2014
The women return to the Tour de France! La Course by Le Tour de France is on!
Welcome to women racing in the Tour de France again! The women’s peloton will take on the best of the best – 13 laps of the Champs Elysees.
Things will be getting started in just a few minutes.
At least they have better luck with the weather than the guys have had so far -- brilliant sunshine!
At 89km, this is a short race, even by the women’s standards.
This race is “a dream come true” for Wiggle Honda manager Rochelle Gilmore. Check out the video interview here.
The following teams are present today: Rabo Liv, Ale Cipollini, Astana BePink, Australia, Bigla, Bizkaia, Boels Doelmans, Estado de Mexico, France, Hitec Products, Lotto Beilsol, Optum, Orica, Netherlands, Poitou-Charantes, Rusvelo, Specialized-LuluLemon, Giant Shimano, United Healthcare, and Wiggle Honda.
The attacks have started, and Chantal Blaak is amongst them.
Who is going to win this one? We have lots of candidates. Like world champion Marianne Vos, who has said she wants it.
Anniemiek Van Vleuten (RaboLiv) is in the lead. We have 10 laps still to go, and the stragglers are starting to fall off the back.
We have a huge pack charging down the cobblestones.
Or how about Jolien d’Hoore (Lotto) or Lucinda Brand (Rabo-Liv) to take the win today?
The bunch is still together.
We now hear there is a break group of eight, including Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Rabo Liv).
Kathryn Bertine of Wiggle Honda has fallen off the back so far that being lapped is becoming a possibility.
If it comes down to a sprint, you can’t overlook three-time world champion Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle Honda). And don’t forget American Shelley Olds (Ale Cipollini and Australia’s Chloe Hosking (Hitec).
Elin Van Dijk (Rabo) alone in the front, with 40.2km to go.
Study this course carefully, you will see it again later today when the men go to it. Actually, you may remember it from the last umpteen years as the now-traditional final Tour stage.
Van Dijk has 20 seconds, with two chasers, Roy and Brennauer. The field has just rounded the Arc de Triomph again.
The field has now caught the two chasers, and Van Dijk has 23 second as at the start off on yet another lap, with 34 km to go.
Cyclingnews’ Zeb Woodpower takes a look back the “Australian Pioneers”, the women who rode the women’s Tour de France back in the 1980s.
Things have calmed down a tiny bit now. The field is strung out a long way, but no one is really getting away.
Alena Amialiusik of Astana BePink has jumped to a tiny lead. Looking to emulate Astana teammate Vincenzo Nibali, perhaps?
Only 4 laps to go. We are beginning to doubt that anyone will really get away and expect a furious mass sprint.
The leader is from Bigla, but we can#t see her number. Chasers are Van Dijk and a Giant Shimano rider, and they have now caught the leader.
Speaking of Giant-Shimano, how do you fancy Kirsten Wild today? She has 12 wins this season, second only to Vos with 16. And she would surely like to win on the Champs like her teammate Marcel Kittel did last year.
1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabobank Liv 2:00:40
2. Kirsten Wild (Ned) Giant-Shimano
3. Leah Kirchmann (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
4. Barbara Guarischi (Ita) Ale Cipollini
5. Shelley Olds - Evans (USA) Ale Cipollini
That's it! Thanks for joining us, and come back shortly when we have the men's race -- you can expect another bunch sprint then!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
‘I’m not thinking about any history, clubbing, or whatever' - Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar has his name in lights but keeps his feet on the ground
Slovenian schedules 'homework' for his own events and rest to 'enjoy the small things in life' rather than add travel for post-Tour criteriums -
'I've shown I deserve to dream' - Remco Evenepoel says second place in Tour de France confirms belief as he pursues future Grand Tour victories
The 26-year-old ready to continue battling for top results at three-week races after best Tour result to date -
Tour de France abandons – 158 riders make it to Paris after Ilan Van Wilder and Pascal Ackermann withdraw on stage 20
Tracking all the riders who have crashed out or otherwise left this year's Tour between Barcelona and Paris
-
'Without them I wouldn't be standing here five times' - Tadej Pogačar pays tribute to family and friends in Tour de France winner's speech
Slovenian uses only a few words in French from the Champs-Élysées podium to address the crowd and then begins the 'party' with full team, including Brandon McNulty -
As it happened: Astonishing finale to a dramatic last stage of the Tour de France as Pogačar is crowned
Initiated by the 2024 Olympics, the circuit featuring the cobbled climb of Butte Montmartre returns for the second consecutive year to close out the Tour de France in Paris -
'Mentally speaking, he's a monster' - No regrets for Decathlon CMA CGM management on bringing Paul Seixas to the Tour de France at age 19
Three weeks ago at Tour start, French team 'could not have imagined a top five for Paul in his first Grand Tour would be possible'
-
Tour de France final GC standings – No changes to top 10 as Tadej Pogačar puts on a show in Paris and confirms fifth title
Remco Evenepoel and Isaac del Toro hold podium spots as GC times were taken before Montmartre climbs -
Tour de France: Tadej Pogačar equals record with fifth yellow jersey as Mathieu van der Poel wins thrilling stage 21
Former World Champion holds off Philipsen and Pedersen in frantic sprint to the line on Champs-Élysées -
GC times to be taken before Montmartre climbs on Tour de France final stage for second year in a row due to safety concerns
Tadej Pogačar can celebrate yellow jersey early on stage 21








