Archiv für den Tag: 26. Juni 2021

Team Qhubeka NextHash safely navigate crash-marred TdF opening stage

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Landerneau, 26 June 2021 – Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quickstep) raced to victory on stage 1 of the Tour de France, also claiming the first yellow leader’s jersey of the race.

The opening stage of the Tour de France, a 198km loop around Brittany, was a dramatic affair, but not always for the most positive of reasons.
Team Qhubeka NextHash were part of the early action as Victor Campenaerts and Max Walscheid were the first two riders to attack today. Campenaerts would summit the first category 4 climb of the race, in first place, but the peloton quickly brought back the UCI Hour Record holder.
A break of 6 riders eventually went clear but the peloton kept them close, as the punchy finale suited a number of the pre-race favourites. Drama then struck with 45km to go, as a fan got in the way of the peloton and caused a mass crash at the front of the race.
Fortunately, all Team Qhubeka NextHash riders got through the carnage to continue racing. As the break was caught and the peloton raced toward the finishing climb, another high speed mass-crash occurred with 7km to go. Once again, luck was on our side as all our riders managed to escape without serious injury.

The crashes had obviously shattered the peloton, leaving just 25 riders to contest for stage honours. The World Champion, Alaphilippe, took a brilliant win while Michael Gogl and Sergio Henao were the first riders home for Team Qhubeka NextHash, finishing in the 2nd group on the road.

Our remaining 6 riders, including Le Tour debutants Nicholas Dlamini, Sean Bennett, Carlos Barbero & Campenaerts all managed to finish the stage safely.
Team Qhubeka NextHash wishes a speedy recover to all those injured in today’s crashes.

Nicholas Dlamini
I think it was one of the first stages of a race that I’ve done in a while where there were so many big crashes but I think we can be happy that nobody really was too badly hurt, it could have been worse. The race was everything that we expected, first stage are always like that, with a lot of stress in the bunch.
It was really good to make my debut and the race started pretty fast. Victor was very good on the first climb but from there it didn’t really stop, it just carried on for another 15km or so before the race slowed down but you could still sense the tension in the peloton with everyone still nervous. And after the first big crash things got more tense as the speed increased in the final but also the roads didn’t get easier with the road furniture.
I think that we can really look forward to the next stage now and take it day by day.
I just want to again thank everyone for the incredible support that they’ve given to me and the team. It’s been incredible, and we will continue to strive to make everyone proud as we continue to change lives with bicycles.

Michael Gogl
It was a really hectic start as usual at the Grande Depart. In the final there was another really big crash and I came through alright but Sergio lost a few positions and wasn’t in the right position to contest.
You had to have the legs for that sort of final so I we’re not satisfied overall with the day but most importantly we’re relatively unscathed and so we look forward to the opportunities to come.

108. Tour de France – Etappe 1

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Zwei große Massenstürze überschatteten die erste Etappe der TdF 21, der erste verursacht durch eine Zuschauerin, die ein Schild in die Strecke hielt und so Tony Martin zu Fall brachte.
Jasha Sütterlin (Team DSM) musste das Rennen mit Sturzverletzungen aufgeben.
Ide Schelling (Bora-hansgrohe) fuhr in einer Ausreißergruppe und später als Solist und sicherte sich mit dieser Fahrweise das Bergtrikot nach der ersten Etappe der TdF21.
Der zweite große Massensturz ereignete sich ca. 7km vor dem Ziel und reduzierte die Spitzengruppe der Favoriten, aus der sich im Schlußanstieg der Weltmeister Julian Alaphillippe souverän den Tagessieg und das Gelbe Trikot sicherte.
Einige Favoriten verloren heute nach dem 2. Sturz relativ viel Zeit, u.a. ‚Super‘ Lopez (Movistar), G.Martin (Cofidis), Richie Porte (Team INEOS Grenadiers) und auch Emu Buchmann (Bora-hansgrohe).


Photo by Plomi

Brest – Landerneau – 198 Km
1 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Deceuninck-QuickStep 4:39:05
2 Michael Matthews (Aus) Team BikeExchange 0:00:08
3 Primoz Roglic (Slo) Jumbo-Visma
4 Jack Haig (Aus) Bahrain Victorious
5 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Bora-Hansgrohe
6 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates
7 David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
8 Sergio Higuita Garcia (Col) EF Education-Nippo
9 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
10 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers

Gesamt:
1 ALAPHILIPPE Julian FRA DECEUNINCK – QUICK – STEP 04:38:55
2 MATTHEWS Michael AUS TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE 00:12
3 ROGLIC Primož SLO JUMBO – VISMA 00:14
4 HAIG Jack AUS BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS 00:18
5 KELDERMAN Wilco NED BORA – HANSGROHE 00:18
6 POGACAR Tadej SLO UAE TEAM EMIRATES 00:18
7 GAUDU David FRA GROUPAMA – FDJ 00:18
8 HIGUITA Sergio Andres COL EF EDUCATION – NIPPO 00:18
9 MOLLEMA Bauke NED TREK – SEGAFREDO 00:18
10 THOMAS Geraint GBR INEOS GRENADIERS 00:18

Weltmeister Julian Alaphilippe unwiderstehlich!

Zunächst war es der Tag des Bora-Hansgrohe-Fahrers Ide Schelling, der das Bergtrikot übernahm und kämpferischster Fahrer wurde. Doch dann stahl ihm Weltmeister Julian Alaphilippe die Show. Seiner unnachahmlichen Attacke 2,3 km vor dem Ziel konnte keiner der Mitfavoriten und Sprinter folgen. Damit übernahm er das erste Gelbe Trikot der Tour 2021. Hervorragender Fünfter wurde Wilco Keldermann, Kapitän von Schelling.

Die Bretagne trotz grauem Himmel und frischen 15 Grad in Festtagsstimmung. Vom Start weg das gewohnte Bild. „Ein richtiges Brett gleich zum Anfang“, bewertete Ex-Profi Fabian Wegmann den Tour-Auftakt. Nach zahlreichen Attacken stand bei Kilometer 23 die Ausreißergruppe, ein Sextett u.a. Ide Schelling vom deutschen Team Bora-Hansgrohe. Das Feld ließ die Sechs gewähren, so dass der Vorsprung rasch auf bis zu dreieinhalb Minuten anwuchs – Mathieu van der Poel, einer der Favoriten auf den Tagessieg, hatte sogar Zeit in aller Ruhe die Schuhe zu wechseln. Die ersten Bergpunkte kassierten Victor Campenaerts (1. Berg, 4. Kategorie) und Danny van Poppel (2. Berg). Beim Anstieg zur Côte de Locronan (9,3 % im Schnitt, 3. Kategorie) griff Ide Schelling als Erster beherzt an. Allerdings zu früh, die zwei Punkte holte sich Anthony Perez.

Schelling im Alleingang, Aufgabe von Sütterlin
Nach ca. 80 km in Quimper Richtungswechsel zurück in den Norden. Der Vorsprung des Sextetts schwankte um zwei Minuten. Die vierte Bergwertung schnappte sich Schelling (ein Punkt) und zog mit Perez gleich. Und auf und davon. Erst eine Minute, bald über zwei Minuten vor dem Feld, das seine ehemaligen Fluchtkameraden schluckte. Würde es der Tag des 23jährigen holländischen Tour-Debütanten werden? Zwei Minuten vor dem Peloton „gewann“ er die Sprintwertung in Brasparts vor Caleb Ewan, Peter Sagan und Michael Matthews sowie den übrigen Topsprintern. 15 km weiter die 4. Bergwertung – wieder ein Punkt für Schelling, jetzt virtuell im Bergtrikot. Dahinter ein heftiger Sturz mit fast dem gesamten Peloton – ausgelöst durch einen unvorsichtigen Zuschauer. Fazit: Das Feld in viele Teile getrennt; von den betroffenen Deutschen konnte Tony Martin schwer gezeichnet weiterfahren, Jasha Sütterlin (Team DSM) musste jedoch aufgeben. Nach und nach kamen die in den Sturz verwickelten Fahrer wieder zurück ins Feld. 27 km vor dem Ziel war Schellings Solo zu Ende.

Julian Alaphilippe mit weltmeisterlicher Taktik
Rund 20 km vor dem Etappenziel in Landerneau „Peloton groupé“ – das Feld bis auf einige abgehängte Fahrer (Caleb Ewan) wieder zusammen. Die Favoriten und ihre Teams auf der Suche nach der optimalen Position für das steile und nervöse Finale. Und prompt sieben Kilometer vor dem Ziel ein erneut schwerer Sturz bei 60 Sachen. U.a. der vierfache Tour-Sieger Chris Froome, Mitfavorit Richie Porte und André Greipel betroffen. Nur noch ca. 50 Fahrer vorne. Was für ein Finale: Aus dem Kreis der Favoriten attackierte Weltmeister Julian Alaphilippe 2,5 km vor dem Ziel und keiner konnte mitgehen. Ungläubig den Kopf schüttelnd sicherte er sich den Sieg vor Michael Matthews und Primoz Roglic und eroberte so das Gelbe Trikot – und das Grüne.

Ide Schelling holt erstes Bergtrikot der Tour bei von Stürzen überschatteter erster Etappe

Untypisch für die Tour de France war bereits die heutige Auftaktetappe ein echter Test für die Fahrer. Ein ständiges Auf und Ab durch die Bretagne über 197 Kilometer von Brest nach Landerneau endete mit einem rund drei Kilometer langem Anstieg, wodurch auch erwartet wurde, dass bereits die eine oder andere Sekunde in der Gesamtwertung auf dem Spiel stand. BORA – hansgrohe war von Beginn an sehr aufmerksam im Feld und nach etwas mehr als 15 km durch Ide Schelling in einer 6-Mann starken Gruppe an der Spitze des Rennes vertreten. Ide setzte sich in der Folge im Kampf um die Bergpunkte von seinen Fluchtgefährten ab. Während diese noch vor dem Zwischensprint eingeholt wurden, sicherte sich Schelling sowohl die Sprint- als auch die letzten beiden Bergwertungen vor dem Finale. Damit eroberte der Tour-Neuling auch das erste Bergtrikot der Tour de France 2021. Im Feld dahinter erreichte Peter Sagan Rang drei beim Zwischensprint und damit wichtige Punkte im Kampf um Grün. Kurze Zeit später ereigneten sich allerdings zwei schwere Massenstürze im Feld, bei denen auch Sagan, Politt, Kelderman, Pöstlberger und Konrad zu Boden gingen. Buchmann blieb verschont, musste aber beim zweiten Sturz wie Sagan anhalten. Während Ide Schelling rund 17 km vor dem Ziel eingeholte wurde, hatten Sagan und Buchmann am Ende keine Chancen mehr vorne anzukommen. Beim Sieg von J. Alaphilippe hielt sich einzig Wilco Kelderman in der ersten Gruppe und erreichte am Ende einen sehr guten fünften Rang. Zum Glück wurden keine schweren Verletzungen festgestellt, dennoch haben Politt, Konrad, Pöstlberger und Kelderman mit Abschürfungen und Prellungen zu kämpfen. Peter Sagan kam relativ glimpflich davon.

„Es war heute von Anfang der Plan, dass ich in die Gruppe gehe. Als ich gemerkt habe, dass zwei Fahrer im Sprint schneller sind, musste ich mir etwas einfallen lassen, denn das Bergtrikot war heute mein Ziel. Ich habe dann an einer Bergwertung attackiert und als die Lücke danach eine Minute war, hat die sportliche Leitung zu mir gesagt, dass ich durchziehen soll. Das hat wunderbar geklappt und es geht ein Traum für mich in Erfüllung. Ich hatte schon das Bergtrikot bei der Tour de l’Avenir, es nun bei der Tour de France zu tragen, ist unfassbar. Ich werde morgen sicher wieder um Punkte kämpfen und das Trikot so gut verteidigen, wie es geht.“ – Ide Schelling

„Es war der erwartete hektische Start. Ich war in den ersten Sturz verwickelt. Zum Glück ist nichts Ernstes passiert, aber ich wurde aufgehalten und musste dann viel investieren, um zurückzukommen. Die Tour hat aber erst begonnen und wir werden weiter jeden Tag kämpfen.“ – Peter Sagan

„Der erste Tag bei der Tour ist immer hektisch, auch heute was das der Fall. Es ging ständig hoch und runter und es war sehr gut, Ide in der Gruppe zu haben. Er hat das Bergtrikot geholt und das ist schon mal ein erster Erfolg für uns. Dann, etwa 50 oder 60 km vor dem Ziel war der erste große Sturz und ich ging wie Peter und ein paar andere Teamkollegen zu Boden. Ich konnte mich wieder nach vorne kämpfen und war am Ende in der ersten Gruppe. Meine Beine sind gut, darum habe ich es auch im Sprint versucht. Meinen Ellenbogen hat es etwas erwischt. Es nicht allzu schlimm, aber auch nicht optimal die Tour so zu beginnen. Aber ich versuche mich die nächsten Tage zu erholen.“ – Wilco Kelderman

„Wie erwartet hatten wir einen stressigen Tag. Die Strecke war teilweise sehr eng und es ging ständig hoch und runter oder um irgendwelche Kurven. Es war gefährlich und darum wollten wir vorne bleiben. Unser Plan mit Ide ist voll aufgegangen und wir haben das Bergtrikot, das ist natürlich schön. Aber der Tag hat definitiv auch seine Schattenseiten, denn fünf unserer Fahrer waren in Stürze verwickelt. Wilco war zum Glück am Ende vorne, die anderen mussten Rad wechseln und haben viele Körner gelassen. Das war nicht der beste Tag für uns, aber Ide hat uns ein tolles Geschenk gemacht.“ – Enrico Poitschke, sportlicher Leiter

La Course 2021

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1 Demi Vollering (Ned) Team SD Worx 2:50:29
2 Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
3 Marianne Vos (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women Team
4 Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Team SD Worx
5 Grace Brown (Aus) Team BikeExchange
6 Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM Racing
7 Soraya Paladin (Ita) Liv Racing
8 Liane Lippert (Ger) Team DSM
9 Elizabeth Deignan (GBR) Trek-Segafredo Women

Brest, Saturday, June 26th 2021 – The Race by Tour de France avec FDJ, which will be replaced next year by the Tour de France women avec Zwift, was won by Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx) on Saturday 26 June between Brest and Landerneau. The Dutch rider won the first stage of the Tour de France in a sprint at the top of the côte de la Fosse aux Loups, ahead of Danish rider Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope) and her compatriot Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma Women Team), who seemed to be on the verge of victory, as last year in Nice, before being beaten on the line.

Lotto Belgium Tour – Etappe 3

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Geraardsbergen – Geraardsbergen – 101 Km
1 KOPECKY Lotte BEL BELGIUM NATIONAL TEAM 02:30:21
2 KASTELIJN Yara NED PLANTUR-PURA 00:07
3 VAN DIJK Ellen NED TREK-SEGAFREDO 00:07
4 WORST Annemarie NED PLANTUR-PURA 00:14
5 BOSSUYT Shari BEL NXTG RACING 00:14
6 VAN DER HÜLST Amber NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 00:18
7 AMIALIUSIKAIena BLR CANYON//SRAM RACING 00:18
8 BREDEWOLD Mischa NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 00:18
9 LE NET Marie FRA FRANCE NATIONAL TEAM 00:21
10 KAY Anna GBR TEAM RUPELCLEANING – CHAMPION LUBRI 00:23
11 VANDENBULCKE Jesse BEL LOTTO SOUDAL LADIES 00:28
12 WIEBES Lorena NED TEAM DSM 00:28
13 ENSING Janneke NED TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE 00:28
14 DE WILDE Julie BEL PLANTUR-PURA 00:28
15 OYARBIDE JIMENEZ Lourdes ESP MOVISTAR TEAM WOMEN 00:28

Endstand:
1 KOPECKY Lotte BEL BELGIUM NATIONAL TEAM 08:54:09
2 VAN DIJK Ellen NED TREK-SEGAFREDO 00:20
3 WIEBES Lorena NED TEAM DSM 00:36
4 OYARBIDE JIMENEZ Lourdes ESP MOVISTAR TEAM WOMEN 01:13
5 AMIALIUSIKAIena BLR CANYON//SRAM RACING 01:24
6 D’HOORE Jolien BEL BELGIUM NATIONAL TEAM 01:38
7 BOSSUYT Shari BEL NXTG RACING 01:40
8 LE NET Marie FRA FRANCE NATIONAL TEAM 01:48
9 VAN DER HÜLST Amber NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 01:52
10 BREDEWOLD Mischa NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 01:53

Tour de France 2021: info with one day to go

Etappenrennen, Tour de France, Vorschau, ,

Key points:

Ø Brittany is all set for the Grand Départ of the 108th Tour de France with stage 1 to take the 184 participants from Brest to Landerneau. Seven Breton riders line up in a land of a rich cycling history, including David Gaudu and Valentin Madouas, the locals for stage 1.

Ø Peter Sagan starts his tenth Tour de France with the aim of winning his eighth green jersey.

Ø The start list includes four Tour de France winners: Chris Froome (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017), Vincenzo Nibali (2014) and Tadej Pogacar (2020). 41 participants have already won at least one stage, including veteran Alejandro Valverde who claimed stage from Brest to Plumelec in 2008.

Seven Breton riders on the path of Jean Malléjac
Among the 33 French starters of the 108th Tour de France, seven hail from Brittany where the first four stages will be held: Warren Barguil and Elie Gesbert (Arkea-Samsic), Cyril Gautier and Franck Bonnamour (B&B-Hotels p/b KTM), Julien Simon (Total Energies), David Gaudu and Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ). Gaudu and Madouas are precisely the enfants du pays of stage 1. Madouas was born in Brest and received an emotional welcome on stage at the teams presentation on Thursday evening. Gaudu was born in Landivisiau near Landerneau, where the first yellow jersey will be awarded on Saturday. Both were passionate spectators, aged 12, the last time the Tour de France started from Brest in 2008. They aren’t the first locals to enjoy the Grand Départ on home soil. Before Jean-Pierre Genêt, a native from Brest who was a team-mate of Raymond Poulidor with Gan-Mercier in 1974 after he wore the Maillot Jaune for one day in 1968, Jean Malléjac had the privilege to start the 1952 Tour de France in Brest. He couldn’t break away on stage 1 to Rennes but was awarded the combativity prime the day after in Le Mans. He was more successful the following year as he won stage 5, had the Maillot Jaune for five days and finished second overall. Malléjac is indeed one of the five Breton riders to have made the final podium of the Tour de France, along with the four winners Lucien Petit-Breton, Jean Robic, Louison Bobet and Bernard Hinault. Stage 1 of the 2021 Tour de France will pass 5km away from Dirinon, where Malléjac was born, and finish in Landerneau, where he died in 2000 at the age of 71.

Van der Poel: “Stage 1 is comparable to a big classic”
Even though he’s yet to make his Tour de France debut, Mathieu van der Poel is one of the super stars on the start line of the 108th Tour de France in Brest. He made a huge impact by showing up at the teams presentation with his whole Alpecin-Fenix dressed in a replica of the jersey worn by his grand-father Raymond Poulidor in his glorious days. “It was a very nice way to pay tribute to him and it was successful”, MVDP said in a pre-race press conference. “I enjoyed doing the photos and videos. Now I’m gonna do everything I can to win a stage. Stage 1 and stage 2 would be great but this is my first Tour and I’m here to discover the Grand Tours. It’s not gonna be easy. I’ve recognised the last 30km of stage 1. It’s comparable with a big classic like the Tour of Flanders but the GC guys will also want to compete at the front and not lose any time. It’s gonna be an interesting race to watch.” Alpecin-Fenix will be an interesting team to follow indeed as they have several cards to play in fast finishes with Jasper Philipsen and Tim Merlier who are already stage winners of La Vuelta and the Giro d’Italia. “I have my own ambition here, I also want to win a stage”, said Philipsen, 23, who already took part in the Tour de France as the youngest rider in 2019 [with three top 10 before his withdrawal]. The Belgian sprinter was battling with a knee injury recently but was adamant that he’s 100% fine now.

Alejandro Valverde the oldest, Fred Wright the youngest
The peloton of the 108th Tour de France is formed of 184 riders (8 more than last year) representing 27 countries. 33 riders are French (vs 39 last year), 22 from Belgium, 17 from Spain, 14 from The Netherlands, 12 from Germany , 11 from Denmark, 10 from Australia (vs 2 last year) and Great-Britain, 9 from Italy (vs 16 last year). The youngest rider is Britain’s Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious), 22 and the oldest is Spain’s Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), 41, who has already started the Tour de France 13 times (the record holder is Sylvain Chavanel with 18) while Mark Cavendish and Tony Martin have 12, Pierre Rolland and Imanol Erviti 11. 45 riders are doing the Tour for the first time, the oldest of them being Victor De La Parte (TotalEnergies), aged 35. Nine of them have never taken part in a Grand Tour before and that includes stage 1 hot favourite Mathieu van der Poel.

David Gaudu described stage 1 finale
David Gaudu, Valentin Madouas and Arnaud Démare expressed the numerous ambitions of Groupama-FDJ with the input of the locals. “The run in to La Fosse aux Loups is complicated and technical”, Gaudu explained. “The will be tension, crashes and splits in the peloton. We’ll have to remain focused and cautious. After the last curve, it’s a narrow street and the first uphill stretch is steep. It’s a never ending uphill. Once we see the finish line, there are 300 to 400 metres remaining and it looks very long. It was touching to see my name everywhere on the road when we recognized stage 1. It was nice to see people at the teams presentation after it was behind closed doors in Nice last year. I had family members in the crowd. It was even more emotional for Valentin [Madouas].” The latter confirmed: “I’ll remember it all of my life. I expect even more people on the road sides. It feels strange to be racing on roads that I know at perfection where I didn’t expect the Tour de France to come. I’m part of the plan for hunting for stage wins and I’ll have a support role for David and Arnaud. We’ll form only one team.” Démare added: “I’m super happy to come back to the Tour de France. I do it with the confidence I gained in winning four stages and the cyclamen jersey at the Giro d’Italia. A successful Tour de France would start with a win.”

Cosnefroy to team up with Van Avermaet
Benoît Cosnefroy is another popular French rider returning after he wore the polka dot jersey for fifteen days last year. He’s no longer associated with Romain Bardet at AG2R-Citroën. Aurélien Paret-Peintre and Australia’s Ben O’Connor are their climbers now. Cosnefroy also shares the leadership with former yellow jersey holder Greg Van Avermaet for some specific stages. “We are yet to decide which one of us will be favoured”, the Frenchman emphasized. “However, I’ll take the first two stages like one-day races. I like it that way, without calculating. I’m far from being the only candidate for the stage finish in Landerneau. It’ll be necessary to invent something.”

Peter Sagan embarks on his tenth Tour de France
Peter Sagan already holds the record of points classification victories in the Tour de France but his desire to add one more to his seven titles is intact, especially after he surrendered to Sam Bennett last year. “This is my tenth Tour de France”, the newly crowned Slovakian champion declared. “I’ll first think of winning some stages and then take the green jersey if possible but everyone realized last year that it’s not that obvious that I’m necessarily the winner. There are a lot of favourites for stage 1. It’s not just about me. A lot of guys are interested, not only the pure sprinters but also Julian Alaphilippe, Sonny Colbrelli… even me, but it depends how the race goes. Being successful at the Tour de France is not all about the shape, it’s about luck as well.” Sagan’s team Bora-Hansgrohe comes to the Tour with GC ambitions for Wilco Kelderman and a very enthusiastic neophyte called Ide Schelling.

Guillaume Martin distances himself from the overall classification
One pre-Tour de France regular topic is which Frenchman will finish first overall. It was Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) last year but the climber from Normandy expressed different ambitions this time. “The Tour de France is something you never fully master”, the cyclist and philosopher explained. “This is my sixth Tour de France, I had a good performance there [12th and 11th in the past two editions], but I never had the bang I’m going for this time. For the first time, I’m going to distance myself from the general classification and take more risks to aim for a stage victory. It feels strange because the essence and the nobility of cycling is the GC but on paper, the course suits me less this year and I need to stay kind of fresh with the prospective of the Olympics. You must also know how to renew yourself so as not to fall into a form of weariness.”
@ASO

La Course by Tour de France avec FDJ: info with one day to go

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Ø The 8th edition of La Course by Tour de France avec FDJ will be contested over 108 kilometers this Saturday, June 26, between Brest and Landerneau, raising the curtain of the first stage of the Tour de France. The arrival at the top of the Fosse aux Loups hill, to be climbed four times, promises a great tussle and a thrilling scenario.

Ø The winner will be the last one on the record book of the event that will give way to the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, an 8-day stage race that will take place from next year onwards

An unprecedented punchy finale
This is the first time that La Course by Tour de France avec FDJ offers an uphill finish dedicated to punchy riders. After a 54-kilometer loop on a lumpy terrain, the riders will enter a circuit to be covered four times that includes the Fosse aux Loups hill (3 km at 5.7%), at the top of which the finish line will be drawn. “It really suits the girls who are strong at the Mur de Huy in the Flèche wallonne”, said Jean-Marc Marino who coordinates the race for ASO. “It’s very steep at the foot and the closer we get to the finish, the softer the gradient is.” Bad weather in Brittany in recent days should however spare the race on Saturday. The wind is expected to be moderated and should the sky be overcast, the risk of rain is low.

Marianne Vos looking for the triple crown
Beaten on the edge last year in Nice by Elizabeth Deignan, Marianne Vos would like to add her name to the La Course by Tour de France avec FDJ for a third and last time. She would then remain in the light of history the sole record-holder of the event, the Dutchwoman currently sharing the record of two wins with her compatriot Annemiek van Vleuten. A success for the leader of Jumbo-Visma would also have a symbolic meaning since she already won the first edition in 2014 on the Champs-Elysées. She can therefore come full circle in Brittany. “Since the first edition, it has been really special to compete in La Course,” said the three-time road world champion. I’m glad I won it twice already, and if there is a possibility of another success, I will not miss out.”

Audrey Cordon-Ragot: “A pretty open race”
Vos is obviously named among her peers as one of the big favorites of the day, even if the nature of the track may hold some surprises. “I think she’s the fastest girl on this kind of finish”, said Audrey Cordon-Ragot (Trek-Segafredo) of Brittany, who plays at home. “We can also think of Coryn Rivera (Team DSM) who is very fast and does well with these kinds of climbs, just like my teammate Lizzie Deignan. I think it’s going to be a pretty open race.” “It will not come down to just a fight in the final climb of the Fosse aux Loups”, Vos previewed. “I expect a tough and aggressive race. It’s hard to say in advance who will have the best chance of winning if the favorites come together at the foot of the last climb.” The name of Anna van der Breggen (Team SD Worx), the reigning world champion and seven-time winner of the Flèche Wallonne, is also on everyone’s lips. “On such a course, she is the favorite in my mind”, said Evita Muzic (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope). “She really dominated the season, leaving no room for others. But everyone went for training camps in May to prepare for the Olympics, it’s been almost a month, if not more, that we haven’t seen some riders in any race. There are a lot of competitors whose fitness status is unknown.”

Evita Muzic: “The nicest race for wearing the tricolour jersey”
Seven days after winning her first French professional championship title at Epinal, Muzic is about to show off her tricolour jersey. “I’m really looking forward to wearing it for the first time, especially on La Course”, she continued. “It’s the best day to wear this blue-white-red tunic. There should be quite a few people on the road side, especially because we’re in Brittany where the supporters are always present. It’s going to be something exceptional, and it gives me even more motivation to compete in this race.” She finished 22nd in Pau two years ago and 26th in Nice last year. “My role will probably consist of going with the moves when the race will become hard in order to help my leaders to save some energy. We’ve got two cards to play with Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (7th of the Tour of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège) and Marta Cavalli (6th of the Tour of Flanders). Our ambition is to win.”

Stéphane Pallez: “A major breakthrough for women’s cycling”
A major player in the history of French cycling, FDJ is the main partner of La Course by Tour de France and is committed to the promotion and encouragement of female sports with its „Sport pour Elles“ program. Stéphane Pallez, CEO of the group, is delighted with the launch of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in 2022: “This is the last edition of La Course by Tour de France avec FDJ, which will have offered a great exposure to women’s cycling and allowed the creation of the Tour de France Femmes. This is a major breakthrough for women’s cycling. FDJ has been involved in the promotion of women’s sport for many years and we are delighted to be a partner in this new event.”
@ASO