Eight years after winning the inaugural La Course, Marianne Vos is back on the Champs-Élysées in pursuit of a victory that could see her wear the first yellow jersey at the rebirth of the women’s Tour de France – now called the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
A victory would indeed mark a special achievement in her career, the closing of a circle of sorts, after her efforts to help bring the historical moment of a women’s Tour de France to fruition.
“The one-day race in 2014 was the first step into this Tour de France, and now ASO has found the right time to make it longer. I think everyone is excited to get it going. Women’s cycling has made huge growth over the last ten years. Sometimes you can’t push and need time to grow and get everything ready to have this kind of race. I think everyone is excited to get it going,” Vos said on the eve of the event.
Our video preview of the Tour de France Femmes
La Course was created in 2014 following a petition to ASO calling for a women’s Tour de France. Vos was one of four women who led the Le Tour Entier’s petition alongside Kathryn Bertine, Emma Pooley and Chrissie Wellington, securing 97,307 signatures.
The event began as a one-day race, and several editions offered multiple stages. Still, while it gained popularity, it was also controversial because ASO had not lived up to its promise of growing the event into a full-fledged women’s Tour de France.
Eight years later, La Course is now seen as a stepping stone to ASO’s new and highly-anticipated Tour de France Femmes.
It had to be the right time
“I always remember meeting with the women pro racers ten years ago when we discussed a women’s Tour de France and devised La Course by Le Tour,” said Tour de France race director Christian Prudhomme.
“Marianne Vos, who is a remarkable woman and a great ambassador, was clear that the race would need media coverage to build interest. That is something I have kept in mind throughout the planning process.”
ASO have put together a robust media package that will provide 2.5 hours of live broadcast worldwide of all eight stages. The event begins at the Eiffel Tour with a circuit race on the Champs-Élysées on July 24 and concludes at the top of La Planche des Belles Filles on July 31.
The importance of this race and the potential impact it will have on the progress of women’s cycling cannot be underestimated.
“The Tour de France is bigger than sports. It’s a big thing around the world. It will impact the fans, and the…
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