La Course by Le Tour de France 2021 [FULL Race] (ladies)

June 26, 2021

La Course by Le Tour de France 2021 – Brest – Landerneau : 107,4 km

La Course by Le Tour de France will embark on its eighth edition in Brest. The event was launched in 2014 after a successful petition to ASO to include women’s racing alongside the Tour de France. What started out as a circuit race on the Champs Élysées, has evolved over the years with a two-day experiment at Col d’Izoard and in Marseille in 2017, a shift back to a mountainous one-day race into Le Grand-Bornand in 2018, a circuit race in Pau in 2019, and a move to Nice in 2020.

Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx) has won La Course by Le Tour de France, held on the morning of stage 1 of the men’s Tour de France. After an aggressive race, the 24-year-old Dutchwoman was the fastest in a sprint of a group of eight, passing Marianne Vos (Team Jumbo-Visma) on the last metres to take the victory. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope) also squeezed by Vos to finish second, with Vos in third place.

A strong breakaway of twelve riders was caught with only five kilometres to go, and the race came down to the final ascent of the Côte de la Fosse aux Loups. After several attacks, a group of eight came onto the finishing straight together, and world champion Anna van der Breggen (Team SD Worx) opened up the sprint early.

“It almost went wrong because Vos was going all the way to the right and I was boxed in a bit. Anna made the speed and forced Marianne to go already. Then I could go in Marianne’s slipstream and come over her,” Vollering said of the finish.

“I was really looking forward to the race this morning, but I was not expecting to win. It was an awesome race and gives me a lot of confidence. And now that I won La Course, I am looking forward to the women’s Tour de France next year,” she added.

How it unfolded

After an aggressive start with many attacks, local riders Cédrine Kerbaol (Team Arkéa) and Noémie Abgrall (Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime) got away separately, but Abgrall never made it to Kerbaol. Elena Pirrone (Valcar-Travel & Service) had more luck, bridging to the front with 60 km to go.

The first time up the Fosse aux Loups, an attack by Lucinda Brand (Trek-Segafredo) led to a group of eleven catching Pirrone, who had dropped Abgrall on the climb. They stayed about half a minute ahead of the peloton on the 14-kilometre lap, and Van der Breggen accelerated on the second ascent of the Fosse aux Loups, eventually catching the front group.

With two laps and 28 km to go, there were about 30 riders in the first group, and Ruth Winder (Trek-Segafredo) immediately launched an attack that brought about a group of ten riders, also including Niamh Fisher-Black (Team SD Worx), Brodie Chapman (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope), Juliette Labous (Team DSM), Mikayla Harvey (Canyon-SRAM), Grace Brown (Team BikeExchange), Anna Henderson (Jumbo-Visma), Sofia Bertizzolo (Liv Racing), Leah Thomas (Movistar Team), and Silvia Persico (Valcar-Travel & Service).

Kristen Faulkner (TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank) and Tatiana Guderzo (Alé BTC Ljubljana) bridged to this group while the peloton slowed down as nobody would take responsibility for the chase. With 19 km left to race, the front group was a minute ahead, with Marta Lach (Ceratizit-WNT) in between in a doomed solo chase. When Chapman lost contact on the penultimate time up the Fosse aux Loups, this inspired an attack by Uttrup Ludwig who was followed by Van der Breggen, Vos, Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM), Liane Lippert (Team DSM), and Soraya Paladin (Liv Racing). After reeling in Lach, this move fell apart again, and Évita Muzic (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope) countered, staying ahead of the peloton for a while.

These moves had reduced the gap to 40 seconds at the start of the final lap, and eventually Jumbo-Visma took charge of the chase, with Canyon-SRAM also helping out. The gap shrank quickly to only 14 seconds at the 5-kilometre mark, and an attack by Brand meant that the front group was reeled in.

The final climb of the Côte de Fosse aux Loups saw a move by Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon-SRAM), preparing the following attack by Niewiadoma who took Brown, Uttrup Ludwig, and Van der Breggen with her. Paladin, Vos, Vollering, and Lippert got back on as the climb flattened out two kilometres from the finish, and shortly afterwards Uttrup Ludwig put in an attack. Van der Breggen chased her down with Brown in her wheel, but after the catch none of the three would drive the move.

Because of that, all eight were together again coming into the final kilometre, and after a short jump by Lippert that was neutralised by Vos, Van der Breggen started the sprint early, allowing Vollering and Uttrup Ludwig to come from behind and beat Vos to the line.

Results :
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 0:00:04
10 Sofia Bertizzolo (Ita) Liv Racing
11 Leah Thomas (USA) Movistar Team Women
12 Coryn Rivera (USA) Team DSM 0:00:08
13 Marta Cavalli (Ita) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
14 Niamh Fisher-Black (NZl) Team SD Worx
15 Mikayla Harvey (NZl) Canyon-SRAM Racing
16 Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
17 Anna Henderson (GBr) Jumbo-Visma Women Team
18 Juliette Labous (Fra) Team DSM
19 Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned) Liv Racing
20 Amanda Spratt (Aus) Team BikeExchange
21 Kristen Faulkner (USA) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank 0:00:21
22 Katrine Aalerud (Nor) Movistar Team Women
23 Joscelin Lowden (GBr) Drops-le Col Supported by Tempur
24 Sabrina Stultiens (Ned) Liv Racing
25 Clara Koppenburg (Ger) Rally Cycling
26 Barbara Malcotti (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service 0:00:38
27 Lauren Stephens (USA) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank
28 Lucinda Brand (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 0:00:40
29 Elise Chabbey (Swi) Canyon-SRAM Racing 0:00:50
30 Federica Piergiovanni (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
31 Eider Merino Cortazar (Spa) A.R. Monex Women’s Pro Cycling Team
32 Ariadna Gutierrez Arzaluz (Mex) A.R. Monex Women’s Pro Cycling Team
33 Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Canyon-SRAM Racing 0:01:05
34 Brodie Chapman (Aus) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 0:01:22
35 Evita Muzic (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
36 Riejanne Markus (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women Team
37 Anouska Koster (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women Team
38 Silvia Persico (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
39 Ane Santesteban Gonzalez (Spa) Team BikeExchange
40 Sarah Roy (Aus) Team BikeExchange 0:01:37
41 Ruth Winder (USA) Trek-Segafredo 0:02:06
42 Ilaria Sanguineti (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service 0:03:02
43 Eugenia Bujak (Slo) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
44 Lucie Jounier (Fra) Arkea Pro Cycling Team
45 Marta Lach (Pol) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
46 Katia Ragusa (Ita) A.R. Monex Women’s Pro Cycling Team
47 Victorie Guilman (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
48 Jeanne Korevaar (Ned) Liv Racing
49 Esmée Peperkamp (Ned) Team DSM
50 Valerie Demey (Bel) Liv Racing
51 Kathrin Hammes (Ger) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
52 Alice Maria Arzuffi (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
53 Amandine Fouquenet (Fra) Arkea Pro Cycling Team
54 Shirin van Anrooij (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
55 Krista Doebel-Hickok (USA) Rally Cycling
56 Maaike Coljé (Ned) Massi Tactic Women Team
57 Alice Towers (GBr) Drops-le Col Supported by Tempur
58 Debora Silvestri (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo
59 Andrea Ramírez Fregoso (Mex) A.R. Monex Women’s Pro Cycling Team
60 Spela Kern (Slo) Massi Tactic Women Team
61 Amber Kraak (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women Team
62 Omer Shapira (Isr) Canyon-SRAM Racing
63 Clara Honsinger (USA) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank
64 Elena Pirrone (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service 0:03:11
65 Marit Raaijmakers (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
66 Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
67 Elizabeth Holden (GBr) Bizkaia-Durango
68 Nina Buijsman (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
69 Georgia Williams (NZl) Team BikeExchange
70 Floortje Mackaij (Ned) Team DSM
71 Emilia Fahlin (Swe) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
72 Sara Poidevin (Can) Rally Cycling
73 Emilie Fortin (Can) Bizkaia-Durango 0:03:30
74 Anna Christian (GBr) Drops-le Col Supported by Tempur 0:03:33
75 Leah Kirchmann (Can) Team DSM
76 Pauline Allin (Fra) Arkea Pro Cycling Team 0:03:49
77 Olivia Baril (Can) Massi Tactic Women Team 0:03:58
78 Heidi Franz (USA) Rally Cycling 0:04:07
79 Chantal van den Broek-Blaak (Ned) Team SD Worx 0:04:45
80 Hannah Barnes (GBr) Canyon-SRAM Racing
81 Laura Tomasi (Ita) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
82 Tayler Wiles (USA) Trek-Segafredo 0:05:20
83 Aude Biannic (Fra) Movistar Team Women 0:05:41
84 Roxane Fournier (Fra) Team SD Worx
85 Cedrine Kerbaol (Fra) Arkea Pro Cycling Team 0:06:17
86 Femke Gerritse (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg 0:07:12
87 Julia van Bokhoven (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg 0:08:49
88 Maeva Squiban (Fra) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling 0:10:38
89 Pien Limpens (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg 0:11:11
90 Noemie Abgrall (Fra) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling 0:12:16
91 Mireia Benito Pellicer (Spa) Massi Tactic Women Team 0:12:44
92 Sheyla Gutierrez Ruiz (Spa) Movistar Team Women
93 Nikola Noskova (Cze) Team SD Worx
94 Greta Marturano (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo
95 Greta Richioud (Fra) Arkea Pro Cycling Team
96 Giorgia Vettorello (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo
97 Noemi Rüegg (Swi) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling
98 Danielle Christmas (GBr) Drops-le Col Supported by Tempur
99 Laura Asencio (Fra) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
100 Maria Vittoria Sperotto (Ita) A.R. Monex Women’s Pro Cycling Team
101 Maaike Boogaard (Ned) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
102 Karlijn Swinkels (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women Team
DNF Audrey Cordon Ragot (Fra) Trek-Segafredo
DNF Anna Trevisi (Ita) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
DNF Paula Patiño Bedoya (Col) Movistar Team Women
OTL Leah Dixon (GBr) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank
OTL Tanja Erath (Ger) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank
DNF Jade Teolis (Fra) A.R. Monex Women’s Pro Cycling Team
OTL Sandra Alonso Dominguez (Spa) Bizkaia-Durango
DNF Iurani Blanco Calbet (Spa) Bizkaia-Durango
DNF Daniela Campos (Por) Bizkaia-Durango
DNF Ariana Gilabert Vilaplana (Spa) Bizkaia-Durango
DNF Typhaine Laurance (Fra) Arkea Pro Cycling Team
DNF Holly Breck (USA) Rally Cycling
DNF Katie Clouse (USA) Rally Cycling
DNF Sara Penton (Swe) Drops-le Col Supported by Tempur
DNF Finja Smekal (Ger) Drops-le Col Supported by Tempur
OTL Sarah Rijkes (Aut) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
OTL Lara Vieceli (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
OTL Belle de Gast (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
DNF Agua Marina Espinola Salinas (Par) Massi Tactic Women Team
DNF Marta Sanchez Hernandez (Spa) Massi Tactic Women Team
DNF Elodie Le Bail (Fra) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling
DNF Manon Souyris (Fra) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling
DNF Michela Balducci (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo
DNF Elisa Dalla Valle (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo
DNF Iris Monticolo (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo