La Course by Le Tour de France: Women's Day, Round Two !

Marianne Vos, (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team, NED, Olympic and Triple World Champion in road racing): “I am delighted that A.S.O. has decided to organize a women’s race this year, to accompany the Tour de France. I am very excited to be taking part, especially with the majestic finish on the Champs-Elysées. The launch of this race is a revolutionary development in our sport. The Tour is the pinnacle of professional cycling, and I have no doubt that La Course by Le Tour identifies a new era for women’s cycling and will significantly contribute to the growth of road racing.”

Kirsten Wild (Giant-Shimano, NED, four-time winner of the Ladies Tour of Qatar)
“It’s super for us. I’m really looking forward to it. The Champs-Elysées is like the biggest theatre for sprinters. And we have a bit of the feeling of the Tour de France. It really is wonderful. It’s also great for women’s cycling. We can show the world what we can do. It would be nice to win where Cavendish and Kittel have triumphed.”

Marion Rousse (Lotto-Belisol, FRA)
“It really is great news to have our own race in Paris before the men. It will be great to race on the Champs-Elysees and have La Course shown on TV, around the world. The fans will be able to see us even more and it could be great for the future of women’s cycling.”

Elizabeth Armitstead (Boels-Dolmans, GBR, Silver medallist 2012 London Olympic road race)
“It’s a great opportunity for, a very good news for us. To win La Course would be something really special. But it is really a race for sprinters so it might not be made for me.”

Rochelle Gilmore (rider and owner of Wiggle Honda team, AUS, winner of a stage on the Tour of Qatar)
“For any owner of a women’s cycling team, it’s a very significant step. Obviously we’re very excited about this race. We’ve got a good sprinter in the team (Giorgia Bronzini) and we’re already thinking about doing some course recon and getting some footage of the men’s race and what we should do to try and win that race. But it’s definitely going to be one of the most important races on our calendar. It’s an opportunity to showcase how we race to the world.”

Emma Johansson (Orica-AIS, SWE, Silver medal 2008 Beijing Oympic road race, Silver medal 2013 World championship TT)
“It’s something that we’ve been wanting to achieve for a long time. To race more along with the men and try to make a bit of a profit from the things that they have created. Women’s races are interesting but few people get a chance to see them. So it’s a brilliant moment to show that we can raise more fans and show that we can race hard as well. It is very positive.