Published April 29, 2014 11:52AM
Vos among riders for 13-lap La Course event in Paris
World, Olympic champion will be among the starters at the Tour de France's new women's event in July
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme, world champion Marianne Vos, and ASO CEO Yann Le Moënner presented the details of the La Course by le Tour de France Tuesday in Paris. Photo: Lionel Bonaventure | AFP
PARIS (AFP) — World champion Marianne Vos (Rabo-liv) will be among the riders to compete on the Champs Elysées on July 27 prior to the finale of the Tour de France’s final stage.
Tour owner ASO presented the details of the new La Course by Le Tour de France event Tuesday at the Hotel de Ville in Paris.
The first-year event will run 90 kilometers over 13 laps of the urban circuit, will feature 20 teams of six riders, and will offer a prize purse of 22,500 euros.
“It’s great ASO has understood the need to provide a stage for women’s cycling to progress,” said Vos. “Even though we know that there is still a lot of work, we are trying to catch up. This is a big step forward.”
Organizers also confirmed the participation of Lizzie Armitstead (Boels Dolmans) and Emma Johansson (Orica-AIS).
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“We met with athletes of extreme motivation, involved in the development of their sport,” said ASO’s CEO Yann Le Moënner. “[Tour director] Christian Prudhomme had the idea to offer them the most famous avenue of the world and we can thus give a unique media spotlight.”
The Tour owner is also considering a women’s event to coincide with the final stage of the Vuelta a España in September. ASO owns the Spanish grand tour.