World champion Marianne Vos sprinted to victory in the inaugural one-day La Course by Le Tour de France in Paris today.
Marianne Vos outsprinted fellow Dutch rider Kirsten Wild on the Champs-Elysees to seize the victory after 91 kilometers of racing – ahead of Canada’s Leah Kirchmann in third.
Britain’s Lizzie Armitstead had been in the leading bunch, but was involved in a crash with French favourite Pauline Ferrard Prevot in the final kilometer.
Race Highlights
A total of 119 riders started the 13-lap race that follows the same course as men’s final stage in this year’s Tour de France.
It was an aggressive race with constant attacks off the front of the peloton, including several by Armitstead who knew she may struggle in a sprint for the line, but all were nullified and the riders were all together with 5 kilometers remaining.
Vos’s Rabobank-Liv team-mates took control of the pace-setting at the front of the peloton on the final lap and delivered the road race champion to the line, where she proved to be too strong for sprint specialist Wild.
"It was already fantastic just to race here," said Vos. "That was a dream come true with the huge crowds.
"But it was also an incredible race with lots of attacks, and that makes it even better to win. The feeling is just amazing."
The race finished ahead of Sunday’s climax of the men’s Tour de France.
photo credit @La Course
ResultLa Course by Le Tour de France, 89km1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabo-Liv2. Kirsten Wild (Ned) Giant-Shimano3. Leah Kirchmann (Can) Optum4. Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Specialized-Lululemon5. Shelley Olds (USA) Ale Cipollini6. Coryn Rivera (USA) United Healthcare7. Jolien D’Hoore (Bel) Lotto-Belisol8. Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica-AIS9. Simona Frapporti (Ita) Astana Be Pink10. Roxane Fournier (Fra)
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