La Course by Le Tour de France goes back to being single day race in 2018
ASO ditches the confusing two-day format of 2017 and reverts to La Course women's race being held on a single day in 2018
La Course by Le Tour de France will go back to taking place on a single day in 2018, as organiser ASO changes the criticised two-day format of 2017.
The fifth edition of the women's race will tackle part of stage 10 of the men's Tour de France, and take place on the same day – Tuesday, July 17.
After starting in Duingt, the riders will take on a 118-kilometre route through the Alpine mountains to Le Grand-Bornand. The riders will climb the Col de Romme and the Col de la Colombière along the way.
>>> Tour de France 2018 route: Alpe d’Huez and Paris-Roubaix cobbles to return for 2018 race
Last year's event comprised a 67.5km mountain stage up to the Col d' Izoard on Thursday, July 20, and then a 22.5km pursuit stage held on the Tour de France's time trial route in Marseille on Saturday, July 22.
Although the first stage provided spectator-friendly racing on the climb, the second stage involved a limit start list and staggered start times based on positions from the first stage, and proved to be confusing for both riders and fans. The non-consecutive days of racing did not help people follow the event.
Watch: La Course 2017 highlights
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Prior to 2017, La Course took place on a single day in Paris, consisting of a circuit-based race that took place on the same day as the final stage of the Tour de France.
Dutch rider Annemiek van Vleuten (Orica-Scott) won the 2017 event ahead of British rider Lizzie Deignan (Boels-Dolmans).
In addition to the men's race and La Course using a route to Le Grand-Bornand, it will also be used to the 2018 edition of L'Etape du Tour mass participation ride, expected to attract 15,000 participants.
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Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.
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