For its 7th edition, La Course by Le Tour de France with FDJ will cover a 96-kilometer course with a start and finish in Nice. This year, for the first time, the event will take place before the Tour de France riders take action.
In 2014, the women’s peloton was welcomed for the first time on the Tour de France. The women’s race then began to establish its place on the Champs-Elysées to conclude the Grande Boucle. Subsequently, the women’s race explored the high mountains with a finish at the Col d’Izoard in 2017, followed by an unusual pursuit race in Marseille on the time trial course. In 2018 at Le Grand-Bornand, and then on a championship-style circuit format around Pau last year, the women have since experienced different race scenarios. In 2020, the elite female riders will gather in Nice, this time with the privilege of starting the competition before the men’s first pedal strokes on their Tour de France.
On the 96-kilometer course, which uses part of the route prepared for the men’s race, the 137 participants spread across 23 teams are unlikely to be expected for a massive sprint, as explained by the event’s director, Jean-Marc Marino: “They will complete a loop twice, and the Rimiez climb will allow a strong group to break away. Especially since after reaching the marked line for mountain points, there are actually several kilometers of climbing left until the village of Aspremont. The springboard is perfect for really strong women who work well together, especially since the descent is technical and not conducive to organizing a pursuit.”
Among the favorites, we must, of course, mention the triple world champion Marianne Vos (NED – CCC), and her compatriot, the reigning world champion, Annemiek van Vleuten (MITCHELTON SCOTT). Even though we might regret the absence of the new French champion, Audrey Cordon-Ragot, her runner-up Gladys Verhulst (Team ARKEA) will proudly represent France!
*The start list:*
list_of_participants_la_course_by_le_tour_de_france_2020.pdf
Attached Documents
list_of_participants_la_course_by_le_tour_de_france_2020.pdf
