2018 La Course by le Tour de France with FDJ : From the lake to the mountains

Key points:
 La Course by le Tour de France will this year be a one stage race between Annecy and Le Grand-Bornand. The first 28 kilometres and final 50 kilometres will be the same used on stage 10 of the men’s race.
 In addition to the race win, a prize for the best climber and most combative rider will be awarded at the arrival. Like in years past, the best riders will battle for the win just a few hours before the Tour de France peloton arrives.
 Twenty teams have been chosen by the organiser, representing the best female cyclists in the world.

Today’s best female riders will race on a stage tailor-made for champions, Tuesday July 17, in edition 5 of La Course by Le Tour de France. As was the case last year with the col d’Izoard serving as the finish line, this will be a mountain race between Annecy and Le Grand-Bornand. However, this year there will be just one stage. The 112.5 kilometres will be anything but a Sunday morning stroll. The Bluffy, Saint-Jean-de-Sixt, Romme and the Colombière climbs will count for the best climber category.

La Course by Le Tour de France will be contested on 78 kilometres of the men’s stage, which will be run the same day, with 28 kilometres between Annecy and Thônes then the final 50 kilometres between Bonneville and Le Grand-Bornand. While the opening kilometres will be picturesque as the peloton riders along the shore of Europe’s purest river, the road will rise in the first 20 kilometres with the col de Bluffy (1.5 km at 5.5%). This could be the first opportunity for a breakaway. Something new this year is the award for the most combative rider of the day that will be rewarded after the race. After passing through Thônes, a category 2 climb will be the next challenge for the peloton with the côte de Saint-Jean-de-Sixt (5.5 km à 4.9 %). La Course by le Tour will then use the same road as the men that heads to the col des Glières, but will continue straight towards Bonneville to arrive in the Arve valley. At this point the peloton will be back on the Tour de France route and will head to the Romme and Colombière climbs, where no doubt, the top climbers will try to attack on the steep slopes of these climbs in the Haute-Savoie. From there it will be a fast downhill run to Le Grand-Bornand, where La Course by Le Tour de France will be decided.

The organisers of La Course by Le Tour de France have selected 20 teams to participate in edition 5:

Ale Cipollini
Astana Women’s Team
Bepink
Boels Dolmans Cycling Team
BTC City Ljubjana
Canyon // SRAM Racing
Cervelo – Bigla Pro Cycling Team
Cylance Pro Cycling
FDJ Nouvelle – Aquitaine Futuroscope
Lotto Soudal Ladies
Mitchelton Scott
Movistar Team Women
Team Sunweb
Team Tibco – Silicon Valley Bank
Team Virtu Cycling
Trek – Drops
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
Valcar PBM
Waowdeals Pro Cycling Team
Wiggle High5

@ASO