Women's Cycling News 13-20.10.2013

UCI events this week - LATEST: Jessie Daams, 2013 Flandrienne - Teute retires - Design the World Cup jersey competition - UCI Women's Commission - Vos to undergo further surgery for back pain... but wins her first CX race of the season - Van Paassen to miss start of CX season - Stultiens' sore knee - D'hoore earns BA - VeloJam results - Transfers and Team News - Shorts and Interesting Links: 2016 Olympic parcours?; Van Wanroij to retire at end of 2014 - Tweet of the Week - More news as it happens...

UCI Elite Women's events this week: Chrono des Nations (20.10.2013)

LATEST: Jessie Daams, 2013 Flandrienne

"Flandrienne," and the male equivalent "Flandrien," are not terms to be bandied about in cycling. They refer only to a very select few, and must be earned. Indeed, there are those that say there was only ever one Flandrien, and that was Briek Schotte - perhaps the toughest of an especially tough breed of Belgian riders.

Once a year the Belgian cycling establishment gathers together for the Gala van de Flandrien, a glitzy soiree (which really couldn't be any more different from the sort of race in which the title is earned) where a panel of fourteen experts chooses a pair of riders - one man, one woman - who in their opinion have best personified the characteristics of the Flandrien throughout the cycling season. This year, they chose Jessie Daams of Boels-Dolmans for Flandrienne.

Daams is only 23, but this year she completed every round of the World Cup and finished the Giro Rosa, the last Grand Tour in women's cycling. She finished far from the top in both events, but a rider becomes a Flandrienne through her grit and determination, not according to the number of trophies in her cabinet.

She faced some stiff competition: Liesbet de Vocht and Maaike Polspoel were both nominated too, but Daams was awarded 51 points compared to de Vocht's 49 and Polspoel's 43. "I certainly wasn't expecting to beat Liesbet de Vocht," she said after receiving the honourary title. "I owe it to my consistency. In the future, I'd like to go for a good ranking in a stage race, or perhaps a shoot-out on a classic climb."

Ina-Yoko Teutenberg announces retirement

Ina-Yoko Teutenberg

She's been saying for years that she'd retire at the age of 38 and now the legendary Ina-Yoko Teutenberg has made it official by announcing she will not return to professional cycling - just days before her 39th birthday.

Teutenberg, who turned professional in 2000 and won more than 200 races over her career, originally took up cycling as a child because she hated being left out of anything her two older brothers (ex-professional riders Lars and Sven) did. She was forced to miss most of the 2013 season following a horrific crash that left her with serious concussion, but fans had hoped she might make a come-back in 2014 - with her humour and reputation for speaking her mind, she has long been one of the most popular riders on the circuit.

"This isn't the way I had hoped to say goodbye," said Teutenberg, who joined T-Mobile in 2005 and has remained with the team through its long transformation into Specialized-Lululemon ever since. "I've considered staying in the sport for another year, but I've decided now is the time to stop."

UCI launch Women's World Cup jersey competition
Think the current jerseys in the UCI Women's Road World Cup are a bit dull and could do with an update? Think that <insert name of favoured rider> would look especially good in <insert colour of jersey>? Well, now you can have a go at making that happen, because the UCI have launched a competition giving fans the chance to design new jerseys for the four classifications that will feature in the race series from 2013 - the overall winner, the Points winner, the Mountains winner and the best Young rider. You'll also be in with a chance of winning a trip to a World Cup event.

Les Deesses' virtually-guaranteed-
to-win entry

The competition has met with a mixed reception with some fans and journalists dismissing it as a gimmick, while others are more worried asking fans to design the jerseys rather than pay a graphic designer is indication the UCI's much talked-up plans to give women's cycling the sort of backing it achieves will be done on the cheap. Others are more positive, arguing that it's a clever way to encourage more people to engage in the sport.

You can enter the competition and read the rules on the UCI website. Be warned, though - you'll face some stiff competition from the Deesses Graphic Design Department...


UCI Women's Commission confirmed
It's been rumoured for a long time, now Brian Cookson - who became president of the UCI after defeating Pat McQuaid in an election last month - has confirmed that cycling's governing body is to gain a women's cycling commission charged with looking at ways the sport can be developed.

McQuaid and his predecessor Hein Verbruggen were frequently accused by riders and fans of not doing enough for women's cycling and, more damningly, not caring, and would often brush the subject aside when it was raised by journalists or by riders, as at the 2011 World Championships. There are some who claim that Cookson doesn't care as much as he has claimed, but the establishment of a commission devoted to the sport is a big step into the future - and, hopefully, a sign of more positive steps to come.

Vos, photographed here at the Fleche
Wallonne, has been suffering serious
back pain for most of the season. Being
Vos, she's still managed 38 wins so far
in 2013

Vos to undergo further surgery for back pain
Excellent results - including the World Championship - following a break from racing earlier this year seemed to suggest Marianne Vos' back problems were over, but the Dutch star has revealed that she'll go under the knife for a small operation that will hopefully rid her once and for all of the pain she's been feeling all season.

Vos underwent medical treatment and took a week out in August, but doctors were unable to find the underlying cause of her pain. Speaking to De Telegraaf, the 26-year-old explained that it might be down to a cyst. "Maybe that's the culprit," she said. "It could well be that the cyst is pressing against a nerve and causing the pain in my lower back.

"I know it's not right, especially during a 'cross race. That's an outright attack on your body. The last laps were not pleasant, oh no," she added, referring to the race she won in front of a home crowd at Den Bosch last weekend (see below).

Via the Rabobank team website, Vos clarified that the matter - and the operation to rectify it - is very minor: "The cyst isn't in my back, but in the abdominal cavity. It could be that it is the cause of my back pain , but the chance of this is small according to the doctors. My back is much better now than during the road season, though it's still a little sensitive. It's a simple procedure, but worthwhile. The doctors said it wasn't urgent, so the operation could take place during a less-busy period, in the break I already had planned after Woerden, so all is well. It doesn't damage by preparation for the second part of the cyclo cross season and I can quickly return to my training regime after the surgery."

She'll undergo surgery at the end of this month and plans to return to racing shortly afterwards.

...but wins her first CX race of the season
...and she did it in front of a home crowd at Den Bosch, the city in the Netherlands where she was born in 1987. Rabobank-Liv/Giant road race team mate Sabrina Stultiens was second, seven-time British National CX Champion Helen Wyman was third, current British National CX Champion Nikki Harris was fourth and rising Dutch star Sophie de Boer was fifth.

Van Paassen to miss start of CX season, may require surgery

Sanne van Paassen

Sanne van Paassen hasn't been quite as fortunate as her Rabobank team mate Marianne Vos and looks unlikely to be able to compete during the first months of the cyclo cross season due to pain in her knees.

"I'm having problems with both legs when I cycle, but the left leg is especially painful when I ride hard," van Paassen, who will turn 25 years of age on the 27th of October, explained to Cyclingonline.nl. "Last weekend, on a ride, I realised that I really cannot compete at the moment."

"Actually, the doctors have found two probable causes," says the Dutch rider, who was second at Gent-Wevelgem in March. "I have a kink in the femoral artery and cysts in both my knees. Unfortunately, they're not agreed as to which of the two problems is the main cause of the pain. If surgery is necessary I won't hesitate to go under the knife, but I'll want to know for certain the surgery will relieve my symptoms. It'll be very tempting to get back on the bike as soon as I've had surgery, but it's important than I think in the long term and don't take unnecessary risks."

Stultiens suffers sore knee

Stultiens at the Tour of Thuringia, 2012

Meanwhile, a third Rabo team mate has been experiencing medical problems this week - 20-year-old Sabrina Stultiens, Junior National Cyclo Cross Champion in 2011 and third place in the Elite National Cyclo Cross Championship earlier this year, is also suffering pain in her knee and as a result cannot take part in the first round of the World Cup due to go ahead at Valkenburg this weekend.

Sabrina Stultiens ‏@STULTIENS_S
Stiekem gehoopt op 'n wonder tijdens m'n testritje voor morgen. nog te veel last aan m'n knie waardoor ik morgen niet start in WB Valkenburg

("I was secretly hoping for a miracle for tomorrow when I went on my training ride but it was just too hard on my knee, so tomorrow I won't start in Valkenburg")

"I want to ride - it's my home province, "Stultiens says. "However, I can't risk long-term injury. There are other important races this winter - the European Championships in January, and the other championships."


Jolien D'hoore earns bachelor's degree

Jolien D'hoore

Somehow finding time to study this year despite her busy racing schedule, sprint specialist Jolien D'hoore has just won a bachelor's degree in physiotherapy and rehabilitation techniques.

D'hoore, who was born in Merelbeke, East Flanders in 1990, rides for the Lotto-Belisol team. "Now I can turn my full attention to cycling," she says - with some excellent results in 2013, she'll be certain to impress come the new season.

Chapeau Jolien!

VeloJam Results
Elite Omnium
1 Sarah Connell (Briston Cycles) 23
2 Anna Railton (ASL360) 23
3 Hannah Barnes (MG-Maxifuel) 20
4 Lucy Harper (Welwyn Cycles) 10
5 Jayne Paine (Wildsen Cycles) 10
6 Anna-Marie Hughes (Prestige VC) 6

B-Category Omnium
1 Alexis Barnes (Cardiff Ajax) 24
2 Amy Good (VCL) 18
3 Emma Towers (Twickenham CC) 17
4 Christine Robson 14
5 Hannah Cannell 10
6 Zoe Lewis (VCL) 7

Go Race Omnium
1 Sarah Walsh 23
2 Tanya Griffiths 16
3 Gemma Marshall 10
4 Charlotte Roberge 8
5 Katie Atherton 6
6 Fiona Leonard 6

Sarah Connell won the Combativity prize (a pair of Hope OpenPro wheels)

More - VeloJam Huge Success (Track Cycling News)


Transfers and Team News
Transfers at-a-glance
As is usual at this time of year, staff at the Rumour Mill have been working overtime - but, at long last, we know where Marijn de Vries is going. Marijn, an enormously popular rider due at least in part to her willingness to chat with fans on Twitter has expected to leave Lotto-Belisol for several weeks now, but there've been no reliable hints as to where she might go. Confirmation was received on the 18th of October that she'll ride for Argos-Shimano, which is also taking on Julia Soek (previously Sengers) and Sara Mustonen (previously Faren-Kuota). Meanwhile, it seems that the team will retain Willeke Knol for another season, rather than releasing her as was previously reported.

Aude Biannic, who just missed out on a bronze medal at the European Under-23 Individual Time Trial and won the controversial Stage 4 of the Giro Toscana (against a much-reduced field; most of the riders having abandoned en masse in protest at the dangerous conditions to which they'd be exposed during the previous stages), has signed to the Spanish Lointek team, which is losing Anna Potokina to Servetto-Zhiraf - Servetto-Zhiraf, the new name for Servetto-Footon, is also taking Svetlana Bubnenkova (who won the Chrono Champenois in 1993!) and Nataliya Boyarskaya (who won the GP of Maykop and Tour of Adygeya in 2013).

Rytger, the Danish-based team that is moving up to the Elite ranks for the first time in 2014, has signed Malin Nystrand; it appears that Rytger will not now be taking on Amalie Winther Olsen or Christina Siggaard, who were reported to be joining the team last week. Siggaard, previously with Restore Cycling, is going to Firefighters Upsala CK, a US/Swedish team that raises funds for and awareness of firefighters suffering chronic and terminal illnesses; it is not known what's happening with Winther Olsen

Jessica Allen, previously with Vienne Futuroscope, is going to the team of the National Cycling Centre Hamilton, an organisation set up to find and develop promising Canadian riders. Vienne Futuroscope is taking on the Australian Sarah Roy (previously Futurumshop), 21-year-old Charlotte Bravard, 20-year-olds Lucie Pader (previously Bourgogne-ProDialogue) and Gabrielle Pilote-Fortin (previously Kenda-RACC) and current Australian Criterium Champion the devastatingly fast sprinter Kimberly Wells (previously Fearless Femme-Pure Energy). Manon Souyris, Oriane Chaumet, Sandrine Bideau, Pascale Jeuland, Amelie Rivat and Fiona Dutriaux remain with the team, while Emmanuel Merlot is retiring. It's not yet known what is happening with Karol-Ann Canuel and Jennifer Letue.

Jolien D'hoore and Celine van Severen are confirmed as staying at Lotto, while the team is taking on Luxembourgian Chantal Hoffmann (previously WC De Sprinters Malderen), Isabelle Soderberg (previously Cramo-Go:Green), Lieselot Decroix (previously CycleLive Plus-Zannata) and 17-year-olds Sara Verhaest and current Walloon Junior Road Race and ITT Champion and Molly Meyvisch (owner of what may be the cutest name in cycling, Molly is the daughter of Herve, whom some people might remember as a domestique on Carrera Jeans back in the early 1990s).

Dalia Muccioli will stay at BePink. Valentina Scandolara - who, remarkably, is still only 23 despite seeming to have appeared in the top ten of every race for ages - is leaving MCipollini-Giordana to go to Orica-AIS, an interesting development and one that is likely to suit her very well. Orica are also taking on Carlee Taylor from Lotto-Belisol, and Grace Sulzberger who won a silver medal for the ITT at the Australian Nationals this year, and will keep Amanda Spratt, Jessie Maclean, Emma Johansson, Melissa Hoskins, Shara Gillow, Gracie Elvin and Annette Edmondson. Gu Sung Eun and Tiffany Cromwell (Orica in 2013) have not provided confirmation of where they'll be in 2014.

Katarzyna Niewiadoma is staying at Rabobank-Liv/Giant, which will take on Anna Knauer who, despite being only 18, has ten National titles, one European title and a World title to her name. Christelle Ferrier-Bruneau, previously with Faren-Kuota, is retiring; Faren-Kuota is taking on the Mexican rider Erika Varela who made headlines earlier this year when photographs emerged which apparently showed her being physically attacked by a coach

Brunello Fanini's Giro Toscana isn't on the 2014 calendar following the riders' protest at unsafe conditions this year, but he has no plans to close down his S.C. Michela Fanini-ROX team - Simona Crotti, Beatrice Bafile and Michela Balducci and joining for 2014. Meanwhile, the team loses Lisa Gamba who is retiring from professional cycling at just 19 years of age; while Edwige Pitel, Carlotta Brui, Lara Vieceli, Yevgenia Vysotska, Mireia Epelde and Azzurra D'Intino all remain onboard, as does Liisi Rist.

Several other riders will be retiring. They are:
Sara Grifi and Sylwia Kapusta (both MCipollini-Giordana), Alessandra d'Ettorre (Vaiano-Fondriest), Noemi Cantele (BePink), Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Specialized-Lululemon; see above), Francesca Stefani (Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo) and Kim Schoonbaert (Lotto-Belisol) - Schoonbaert explains her decision to do so here.

Epic Cycles-Scott Contessa, the new British team announced in August, has signed Molly Weaver and Elle Hopkins, who were previously with Breast Cancer Care, and Hannah Walker from the Matrix Racing Academy. The team also includes Karla Boddy and Melissa Brand (both previously MG-Maxifuel); Anna Christian, Alex Greenfield and Emily Kay (all previously Scott Contessa-Epic), Laura Massey and Alexie Shaw.


Shorts and Interesting Links
Is this the 2016 Olympic parcours?

A map, apparently showing the route of the Road Race and Time Trial at the 2016 Olympics, has appeared online with two-and-a-half years still to go until the Games. You can see the .pdf here.

There is at present no evidence in favour or against it being genuine, nor if it's a finalised route or one of several under consideration if it is real, but the map is accurate (if simplified) with the route plotted on roads that do exist just south of Rio, in between Catete and Copacabana. The altitude profile looks a little strange, but the Corcovado area (a national park) does reach 400m above sea level, as shown on the profile 10km from the start; however, the road only reaches approximately 250m. If genuine it'd be a serious climb, gaining 400m in 4km at an average gradient of 10%, but a profile created for the same route by Velofocus looks sufficiently similar to suggest that the route uses roads that already exist and the creator of the map has used an incorrect altitude scale. Two smaller climbs between the first and the 20km point look to be even steeper.

Van Wanroij to retire at end of 2014

Van Wanroij is looking to the future

Marieke van Wanroij, who announced recently that she's signed up for another season with her Boels-Dolmans team, says she plans to retire from cycling at the end of 2014 - when she'll be 35 years old.

"I would like to win a race this season," van Wanroij says, but explains that doing so isn't the main aim of her final year: she will concentrate on acting as mentor to the team's two new youthful signings Demi de Jong and Nicky Ziljaard. "When our directeur sportif Danny Stam called me to ask if I'd like to take on a guiding role for them, I was immediately enthusiastic. It's good to know that my efforts to motivate the team are appreciated. I've been thinking of taking up coaching in the future and this is a good intermediate step, a season to work out if that's really what I want to do."

Full team statement here.

Interesting Links
Photo: Nikki Harris remembers Amy Dombroski (Kramon)
Compton solos to victory in Colorado Cross Classic (Cycling Weekly)
Joanna Rowsell wants Great Britain to continue Team Pursuit domination (British Cycling)
Laura Trott, Dani King and Joanna Rowsell would love to see Women's Tour de France (The Daily Telegraph)
Specialized debuts women's recreational triathlon bike (Bicycle Retailer)
Laura Trott: life as a road rider is hard for my sister Emma (Daily Telegraph)
Le SENS de l'HUMOUR et le BON SENS de Marianne VOS! (Gwena)
British Cycling plan for one million more women riders on track (BBC)

Tweet of the Week

Marijn de Vries ‏@marijnfietstO jongens, als jullie toch zouden weten waar ik nu zit dan zouden sommigen van jullie best met me willen ruilen. 

("Oh guys, if you knew where I am right now, some of you would want to swap with me." - Intriguing stuff!)

Route de France féminine 2012

04.08-12.08.12 Official site Twitter Facebook
France, UCI 2.1

Stage reports and results further down the page

Having been held since 2006, Le Route didn't go ahead in 2011 after a series of problems that organiser Hervé Gerardin said made it "almost impossible" to make the race happen. Instead, the organising committee redoubled their efforts, determined that it would take place again in 2012 - "It's a shame for women's sports. It has no real support and I think that's bad... there should be more women's cycling," says Gerardin.

They suffered enough set backs to discourage most race committees, including an abject lack of interest from several ideal stage towns; but their hard work has paid off. In times that have seen so many women's races vanish, the Route de France is something very special indeed - long may it continue. (Fans can help ensure it does, simply by retweeting official race tweets - see the link above, spreading news and talking about it. Anything that helps to increase awareness of the race, in a year when it's likely to be largely forgotten due to the Olympics, is worthwhile!)

Results and news published below with stage descriptions (when available)

Stages

Stage 1/Prologue

1. SAINT POL SUR MER - SAINT POL SUR MER  (Nord) 5.1km ITT
Fast and flat with plenty of long straights. Several points looked as though they might be hazardous - first corner (Rue de la Republique/Av. Edmond Flamand) due to potentially slippery drain covers on the right; the Rue de la Samaritaine with a truck depot, what appears to be a scrapyard and several industrial units - making the road hazardous if vehicles have spilled oil or fuel. Corner 5 (Rue de la Samaritaine/Rue Alfred Caulier, just past the Land Rover dealership) seemed especially risky, coming as it does at the end of a long, fast straight with several nearby sideroads leading into the industrial area. More depots along the Av. de Petite Synthe made the section between the two bridges another risky part.

Stage 1 Result   
  1.  Alena Amialyusik Be Pink 06'41" 
  2.  Evelyn Stevens Specialized-Lululemon +02"
  3.  Kristin Mcgrath Exergy-Twenty12 +05"
  4.  Amanda Miller Team TIBCO +08"
  5.  Emilia Fahlin Specialized-Lululemon ST
  6.  Alexsandra Burchenkova SC Michela Fanini Rox +09"
  7.  Jacquelyn Crowell Exergy-Twenty12 +10"
  8.  Grete Treier SC Michela Fanini Rox +12"
  9.  Chloe Hosking Specialized-Lululemon +13"
  10.  Silvia Valsecchi Be Pink ST
Full result

Stage 2

2. DUNKERQUE (Nord) - NOEUX LES MINES  (Pas de Calais) 102.4km
Another flat parcours, though punctuated with two climbs offering points - Cassel (28km) rises to 167m, Cote de Holain (90km) to 190m. Due tot he flat terrain, high winds blowing off the North Sea have the potential to cause problems, but conditions were calm. A slight rise in the final kilometre meant the sprinters weren't going to have an easy time of things, but wasn't big enough to stop them trying.

Lotto-Belisol rode aggressively right from the start with Ann-Sophie Duyck launching the day's first attack less than a kilometre from the depart fictif, and she rode alone off the front for 68km before the pack brought her back. It was a smart move, because whilst the other teams had to work to catch her, her team mates were able to sit back and save energy for later on - and Cherise Taylor will have needed every last gram of strength she could muster when she went head-to-head with Specialized-Lululemon's lightning-quick sprinter Chloe Hosking in the final battle to the line. Fortunately for her, Duyck's mission proved successful - she beat the Australian by mere centimetres, with the first 52 riders all recording the same time.

Stage 2 Result    
  1.  Cherise Taylor Lotto-Belisol 2h48'32"
  2.  Chloe Hosking Specialized-Lululemon ST

Cherise Taylor

  3.  Alona Andruk Diadora-Pasta Zara ST 
  4.  Christine Majerus GSD Gestion ST
  5.  Inga Cilvinaite Diadora-Pasta Zara ST
  6.  Grete Treier S.C. Michela Fanini Rox ST
  7.  Simona Frapporti Be Pink ST 
  8.  Lucinda Brand AA Drink-Leontien.nl ST 
  9.  Edita Janeliunaite Diadora-Pasta Zara ST
  10.  Giada Borgato Diadora-Pasta Zara ST
Full stage result

General Classification
1. Alena Amialiusuk Be Pink 2h55'13"
2. Evelyn Steven Specialized-Lululemon +02"
3. Kristin McGrath Team USA +05"
4. Amanda Miller Team USA +08"
5. Emilia Fahlin Specialized-Lululemon ST 
6. Aleksandra Burchenkova S.C. Michela Fanini-Rox +09"
7. Jacquelyn Crowell Team USA +10"
8. Grete Treier S.C. Michela Fanini-Rox +12"
9. Chloe Hosking Specialized-Lululemon +13"
10.  Silvia Valsecchi Be Pink ST
Full GC

Stage 3

3. NOEUX LES MINES  (Pas de Calais) - TERGNIER (Aisne) 130.7km
There were no hills on Stage 3 - in fact, the highest terrain came within the depart fictif - but the first half of the parcours is rolling, with a large number of dips and rises that have little effect on their own but can drain energy from the legs when they come in quick succession (British cyclists who have ridden in Suffolk will know this type of terrain). There was a small, steep climb at 70km, just before the feeding zone; the remaining 53km were flat - combined with a gentle descent to the last flat kilometre, this was always going to be a stage for the sprinters. As predicted, the entire parcours was subject to strong wind.

Specialized-Lululemon very quickly made it clear that they had designs on this stage, attempting to organise a break early on, but it wasn't happening and they decided to try to wear down their opponents with attacks instead. Marijn de Vries (AA Drink-Leontien.nl) successfully chased down the first; then when her team mate Lucinda Brand went after the next, six riders went with her and the day's break formed from that.

Despite a concerted effort by the pack, the seven escapees managed to maintain a decent lead all the way to the finish - Brand crossed just ahead of the rest with all seven recording the same time. Alona Andruk led the main group over the line 1'39" later, the next 55 riders receiving the same time as her, then Silvia Moroni (Vaina-Tepso arrived 17" after them and was followed by her team mate Valentina Bastianelli 14" second. The final rider to arrive was S.C. Michela Fanini Rox's Ellah Michal - hailing from one of the most under-represented nations in cycling, Israel - who got in 8'38" after Brand. Ally Stacher (Specialized-Lululemon) did not start the stage, Federica Primavera (Forno D'Asolo Colavita) did not finish.

"Wasn't it a nice win?" Brand asked afterwards. She's right - it was.

Lucinda Brand

Stage 3 Result
  1. Lucinda Brand AA Drink-Leontien.nl 3h26'33" 
  2. Inga Cilvinaite Diadora-Pasta Zara ST 
  3. Silvia Valsecchi Be Pink ST   
  4. Anastasiya Chulkova Forno D'Asolo-Colavita ST         
  5. Amanda Miller Team USA ST
  6. Lise Olivier         Lotto-Belisol ST
  7. Katie Colclough Specialized-Lululemon ST
  8. Alona Andruk Vaiana-Tepso +01'39"
  9. Chloe Hosking Specialized-Lululemon ST
  10. Isabelle Soederberg AA Drink-Leontien.nl ST
Full stage result

General Classification
  1. Amanda Miller Team USA 6h21'54"
  2. Silvia Valsecchi Be Pink +05"
  3. Katie Colclough Specialized-Lululemon +06"
  4. Inga Cilvinaite Diadora-Pasta Zara +07"
  5. Lucinda Brand AA Drink-Leontien.nl +08"
  6. Anastasiya Chulkova Forno D'Asolo-Colavita +21"
  7. Lise Olivier         Lotto-Belisol +26"
  8. Alena Amialiusuk Be Pink +1'31"
  9. Evelyn Steven Specialized-Lululemon +1'33"
  10. Kristin McGrath Team USA +1'36"
Full GC

Stage 4

4. SOISSONS (Aisne) - PONTAULT-COMBAULT  (Seine et Marne) 113.1km
After two days heading south-east, a short transfer took the race to Soissons and the riders headed south-west over somewhat hillier terrain to the Île-de-France just east of Paris. The highest point along the first two-thirds, to 80km, riose to only 149m; but was steep enough to test the legs. The only climb offering points was Cote de Brinches at 60km, closely followed by the feeding zone. At 75km, riders began climbing Cote de Dainville; then with the exception of the last 6km, which rose slightly, the remainder of the parcours was downhill - making the stage seem ripe for a breakaway.

Valentina Bastianelli (Vaiana-Tepso)made her move only 5km into the race and rode solo until Simona Frapporti (Be Pink) joined her at 50km; the two of them were the only riders able to stay away in the end, keeping a lead that had grown to 3'30" at 42" as they made the final approach to the finish -  where Frapporti turned out to be the stronger of the two and got her front wheel over the line a fraction of a second faster. Specialized-Lululemon's enormously popular Chloe Hosking led an eight-strong chase group in 42", hotly pursued by the pack just 3" behind them; then Jacquelyn Crowell (USA/Exergy-Twenty12), Silvia Moroni (Vaiana-Tepso), Ellah Michal (S.C. Fanini Rox) and Moroni's team mate Alessia Martini finished up 53" after the winner. Despite wet conditions on some parts of the parcours, all the riders completed the stage.

British rider Katie Colclough (Specialized-Lululemon), best young rider today, came 36th, slipping from third to fourth place in the General Classification.

Simona Frapporti

Stage 4 Result
  1.  Simona Frapporti Be Pink 3h02'55"
  2.  Valentina Bastianelli Vaiana-Tepso ST
  3.  Chloe Hosking Specialized-Lululemon +42"
  4.  Alona Andruk Diadora-Pasta Zara ST
  5.  Christine Majerus GSD Gestion ST
  6.  Edita Janeliunaite Diadora-Pasta Zara ST
  7.  Emilia Fahlin Specialized-Lululemon ST
  8.  Lucinda Brand AA Drink-Leontien.nl ST
  9.  Cherise Taylor Lotto-Belisol ST
  10.  Giada Borgato Diadora-Pasta Zara ST
Full stage result

General Classification
  1. Amanda Miller Team USA 9h25'34"
  2. Lucinda Brand AA Drink-Leontien.nl +05"
  3. Silvia Valsecchi Be Pink +05"
  4. Katie Colclough Specialized-Lululemon +06"
  5. Inga Cilvinaite Diadora-Pasta Zara +07"
  6. Anastasiya Chulkova Forno D'Asolo-Colavita +21"
  7. Lise Olivier         Lotto-Belisol +26"
  8. Simona Frapporti Be Pink +1'02"
  9. Alena Amialiusuk Be Pink +1'31"
 10. Evelyn Steven Specialized-Lululemon +1'33"
Full GC

Stage 5

5. PONTAULT-COMBAULT  (Seine et Marne) - CHALETTE SUR LOING (Loiret) 122.5km
Stage 5 headed south over pancake-flat terrain without climbs, ending with three laps of a circuit at Chalette sur Loing and passing en route through the National Park west of Fontainebleu, once the hunting park of the French monarchs.

As expected, the parcours made it a sprinter's stage with no fewer than 57 riders finishing together. Specialized-Lululemon's Chloe Hosking - who can produce the sort of power a rider would need to see off people such as Giorgia Bronzini and Marianne Vos in a sprint, as she proved at the Drentse 8 van Dwingeloo in March this year - was the quickest in the final couple of hundred metres and took the stage win. Alone Andruk (Diadora-Pasta Zara was on her all the way but had to settle for second, with Vienne Futuroscope's Fiona Dutriaux taking third place.

British rider Katie Colclough (Specialized-Lululemon) was 24th and thus recorded the same time as Hosking, therefore remaining in fourth place overall. Valentina Bastianelli (Vaiana-Tepso), who did so well yesterday when she escaped in a break and came second, trailed the main group by 20" to come 58th, a sign of just how much effort she put in on Stage 3. USA/Exergy-Twenty12's Jacqueline Crowell was another 5'02" behind her and Ella Michal (S.C. Michela Fanini Rox) arrived 8'09" after Hosking. Poor Emilia Fahlin (Specialized-Lululemon) crossed the line 24'06" down after her handlebar snapped and she was forced to ride 85km on her own off the back of the peloton; then Alessia Martini and Silvia Moroni (both Vaiana-Tepso) finished together at +36'17". Unfortunately, four riders were unable to finish: Lorena Forisi (S.C. Michela Fanini Rox), Ann-Sophie Duyck, Cherise Taylor and Joanne van de Winkel - the latter three all riders for Lotto-Belisol, bad news for the team as it's now reduced to three riders.

Chloe Hosking

Stage 5 Result
  1.  Chloe Hosking Specialized-Lululemon 3h08'36"
  2.  Alona Andruk Diadora-Pasta Zara ST
  3.  Fiona Dutriaux Vienne Futuroscope ST
  4.  Edita Janeliunaite Diadora-Pasta Zara ST
  5.  Simona Frapporti Be Pink ST
  6.  Alena Amialyusik Be Pink ST
  7.  Giada Borgato Diadora-Pasta Zara ST
  8.  Lucinda Brand AA Drink-Leontien.nl ST
  9.  Oxana Kozonchuk Be Pink ST
  10.  Grete Treier S.C. Michela Fanini Rox ST
Full stage result

General Classification
  1. Amanda Miller Team USA 12h34'10"
  2. Lucinda Brand AA Drink-Leontien.nl +05"
  3. Silvia Valsecchi Be Pink +05"
  4. Katie Colclough Specialized-Lululemon +06"
  5. Inga Cilvinaite Diadora-Pasta Zara +07"
  6. Anastasiya Chulkova Forno D'Asolo-Colavita +21"
  7. Lise Olivier         Lotto-Belisol +26"
  8. Simona Frapporti Be Pink +1'02"
  9. Alena Amialiusuk Be Pink +1'31"
 10. Evelyn Steven Specialized-Lululemon +1'33"
Full GC

Stage 6

6. CREPS - Bourgogne Dijon (Côte d’Or) - ARC ET SENANS (Doubs)  100km
The longest transfer of the race took the riders to Creps overnight (where they were billeted in a completely rubbish hotel that offered them a breakfast insufficient to keep a sparrow in flight for more than an hour, never mind a fully-grown adult woman pedaling at full speed for 100km). There were no real hills (and hence no climbing points) on the way to Arc et Senans, but the Alps visible to the east will have been a welcome sight to the climbers and a reminder that their turn to shine is coming soon. 

The final 5km were flat; it came as no surprise that the stage ended with a bunch sprint consisting of 58 riders. First among them was Loren Rowney, taking Specialized-Lululemon's second stage win in as many days, while Alona Andruk (Diadora-Pasta Zara) repeated her performance from yesterday to come second, followed by her team mate Giada Borgato in third.

Katie Colclough (Specialized-Lululemon), the only British rider in the race, was 57th but, crucially, finished in the main group and thus remains fourth in the General Classification. Valentina Bastianelli (Vaiano-Tepso) was the first of the riders to finish apart from the bunch, arriving 26" after Rowney; next in was Ellah Michal of S.C. Michela Fanini Rox at +01'10", then Jacqueline Crowell (USA/Exergy-Twenty12) at +02'06" and finally the unfortunate Silvia Moroni (Vaiana-Tepso) at +27'51".

The latter part of this race is an entirely different beast to the former - with a 503m climb briefly reaching a gradient as high as 28% on its way to the 1,035m Planche des Belles Filles to end tomorrow's stage, there's a good chance that there'll be a different leader tomorrow.

Arc-et-Senans arrival c/o Be Pink

Loren Rowney

Stage 6 Result
  1. Loren Rowney Specialized-Lululemon 2h36'24"
  2. Alona Andruk Diadora-Pasta Zara ST 
  3. Giada Borgato Diadora-Pasta Zara ST 
  4. Sandrine Bideau Vienne Futuroscope ST
  5. Oxana Kozonchuk Diadora-Pasta Zara ST 
  6. Edita Janeliunaite Diadora-Pasta Zara ST 
  7. Simona Frapporti Be Pink ST 
  8. Sara Grifi S.C. Michela Fanini Rox ST
  9. Alena Amialiusuk Be Pink ST 
  10. Fiona Dutriaux Vienne Futuroscope ST 
Full stage result

General Classification 
  1. Amanda Miller Team USA 15h10'34"
  2. Lucinda Brand AA Drink-Leontien.nl +05"
  3. Silvia Valsecchi Be Pink +05"
  4. Katie Colclough Specialized-Lululemon +06"
  5. Inga Cilvinaite Diadora-Pasta Zara +07"
  6. Anastasiya Chulkova Forno D'Asolo-Colavita +21"
  7. Lise Olivier         Lotto-Belisol +26"
  8. Simona Frapporti Be Pink +1'02"
  9. Alena Amialiusuk Be Pink +1'31"
 10. Evelyn Steven Specialized-Lululemon +1'33"
Full GC

Stage 7

7. MORTEAU (Doubs) - LA PLANCHE DES BELLES FILLES (Haute Saône)  126.4km
Having headed roughly south ever since the beginning of the race, the riders head in completely the opposite direction - and at long last, the climbers gt their chance to take over the race. Beginning at 750m above sea level, te teams faced a 175m climb simply to get out of the depart fictif; the terrain then dropped until 20km before swinging upward for the climb to the summit of 692m Les Varans, the first of the two climbs offering points today. There was a smaller climb between 40 and 50km, then a long descent to 70km and a brief kick up to the feeding zone at Geney, after which the remainder climbed gently with a few small, steeper hills... until 120km, at which point the riders had the difficult 503m climb to the Planche des Belles Filles in the Vosges (as seen in this year's Tour de France), 1,035m above sea level and the second climb with points.

Six riders, among them La Route's only British rider Katie Colclough (Specialized-Lululemon), got away after 45km; Simona Frapporti and Silvia Valsecchi (both Be Pink) later broke away together and managed to get as much as 2'20" out in front of the pack, earning them a joint Combativity sward for the stage. Colclough finished in 44th place and thus loses the Youth classification lead to 19-tear-old Dalia Muccioli of Be Pink, who put in ride on the Planche that will earn her the respect of climbers far more experienced that she is. Two other riders, GSD-Gestion team mates Oriane Chaumet and Lucie Pader, have also overtaken the Brit.

Just as expected, the mountains changed everything: Amanda Miller (Team TIBCO) has handed over the race leadership to stage winner Evelyn Stevens, who was unapproachable on that big final climb and delivered a third consecutive stage win for her Specialized-Lululemon team. As a powerful all-rounder, it's going to take a lot of effort if anyone wants to shift her from the top spot now that there are no flat stages left - however, you can bet your last energy gel there'll be a lot of people trying to do just that.

After all the bunch sprints earlier in the race, the riders all recorded different times today (with the exception of Giada Borgato of Diadora-Pasta Zara and AA Drink-Leontien.nl's Marijn De Vries - whom you really should be following on Twitter, incidentally, because her comments on races and racing are both hilarious and invaluable - who finished together at +4'01". Last rider in was Silvia Moroni (Vaiana-Tepso) again, this time needing an extra 1h21'57" to complete; so let's hope she's enjoying the race.

Marijn de Vries ‏@marijnfietst
Really cool to see Thomas Voeckler cheering for us just before the climb to La Planche des Belles Filles started!

Evelyn Stevens

Stage 7 Result
  1. Evelyn Stevens Specialized-Lululemon 3h32'33".
  2. Kristin McGrath Team USA +22"
  3. Carlee Taylor Vienne Futuroscope +41"
  4. Alena Amialiusuk Be Pink ST
  5. Edwige Pitel Team France +59"
  6. Lise Olivier Lotto-Belisol +1'13"
  7. Flavia Oliviera Forno D'Asolo Colavita +1'42"
  8. Dalia Muccioli Be Pink +1'44"
  9. Carol-Ann Kanuel Vienne Futuroscope +1'50"
  10. Carla Ryan AA Drink-Leontien.nl +2'03"
Full stage result

General Classification
  1. Evelyn Stevens Specialized-Lululemon 18h44'40"
  2. Lise Olivier Lotto-Belisol +06"
  3. Kristin McGrath Team USA +35"
  4. Alena Amialiusuk Be Pink +1'31"
  5. Carlee Taylor Vienne Futurocope +1'02"
  6. Lucinda Brand AA Drink-Leontien.nl +1'03"
  7. Edwige Pitel Team France +1'17"
  8. Amanda Miller Team USA +1'41"
  9. Inga Cilvinaite Diadora-Pasta Zara +2'02"
  10. Grete Treier S.C. Michela Fanini-Rox +2'16"
Full GC

Stevens wins Stage 7 (c/o France 3)

Stage 8

8. LURE (Haute Saône) - SAINT DIE DES VOSGES (Vosges)  115.3km
Stage 8 took in the highest climb of the race, 1,131m Le Collet. The initial 22km rose only gently, then the climbers competed for points on Col des Croix, followed by a steep and fast descent to Le Thillot and a climb without points to Col du Menil. Despite its height, the ascent of Le Collet was not judged challenging enough to offer points; having gone through the feeding zone at the summit the climbers had to deal with the 27km descent before getting another chance to win points on the Col du Plafond. The remaining 22km were downhill - a chance for the other riders to make up a few valuable seconds on the climbers. 

It was, obviously, a stage for the climbers; and as expected a group of them got away to mount a challenge to Evelyn Steven's (Specialized-Lululemon) General Classification lead. In the group were some dangerous figures: Oxana Kozonchuk (Be Pink), Edwige Pitel (France), Andrea Dvorak (Team USA) and others, hence the effort made by the rest of the pack to catch them. Through the hard work of a chase group making excellent use of those last 22km, Stevens was able to overtake Kozonchuk, as was Lucinda Brand (AA Drink-Leontien.nl), but the escapees had piled on too much pressure earlier in the stage and the chasers couldn't summon up the energy they'd have needed to catch them - but they came very close: Dvorak and Pitel still had a 6" lead at the finish line. However, what really matters is that Stevens' GC lead remains - in fact, her performance on the stage was sufficient to increase it by 4" so that she now has an overall advantage of 10". Lise Olivier is second; expect her Lotto-Belisol team mates to launch savage attacks on Lululemon during the final stage on Sunday.

Brand was third to finish, arriving with seven others who all recorded the same time, then the main group of 24 riders got in 4" after Brand and were followed 7" later by a group of nine. Silvia Moroni (Vaiana-Tepso), who had finished in last place on the previous two stages, had a much better day finishing 25" after Dvorak and coming 45th of the 57 riders to finish. She was accompanied by another Silvia, Valsecchi (Be Pink), then Katie Colclough (Specialized-Lululemon) got in 2" later; riding with her was Karol-Ann Canuel (Vienne Futuroscope), taking 48th place after giving so much in the breakaway. Fans had a long wait for the next group, six riders led by Uenia Fernandes da Souza (Formo D'Asolo Colavita) who arrived 11'25" after the winner, then Alessia Martini (Vaiana-Tepso) arrived at +19:56, Ellah Michal (S.C. Michela Fanini-Rox) at +30'16" and Eleonora Spaliviero (Vaiana-Tepso) finished up with +35'19". Steffi Jamoneau (France) and Fiona Dutriaux (Vienne Futuroscope) abandoned during the stage. Martini and Michal share the Combativity award.

The Youth classification remains the same with Dalia Muccioli (Be Pink) leading and Oriane Chaumet and Lucie Pader (both GSD-Gestion) in second and third; Katie Colclough retains fourth place.

Andrea Dvorak

Stage 8 result
  1. Andrea Dvorak USA 3h13'13"
  2. Edwige Pital France ST
  3. Lucinda Brand AA Drink-Leontien.nl +06"
  4. Alena Amialiusik Be Pink ST
  5. Giada Borgato Diadora-Pasta Zara ST
  6. Evelyn Stevens Specialized-Lululemon ST
  7. Oxana Kozonchuk Be Pink ST 
  8. Kristin McGrath USA ST 
  9. Grete Treier S.C. Michela Fanini-Rox ST 
  10. Simona Frapporti Be Pink ST 
Full stage result

General Classification
  1. Evelyn Stevens Specialized-Lululemon 21h57'59" 
  2. Lise Olivier Lotto-Belisol +10" 
  3. Kristin McGrath USA +25" 
  4. Alena Amialiusik Be Pink +39"
  5. Lucinda Brand AA Drink-Leontien.nl +1'03"
  6. Carlee Taylor Vienne Futuroscope +1'06" 
  7. Edwige Pital France +1'11"
  8. Amanda Miller USA +1'45" 
  9. Inga Cilvinaite Diadora-Pasta Zara +2'06" 
  10. Grete Treier S.C. Michela Fanini-Rox +2'16"
Full GC

Stage 9

9. CORCIEUX (Vosges) - MUNSTER (Haut Rhin)  113.9km
As soon as they left the depart fictif behind, the riders were straight into the thick of it on the Col du Martimpre, rising to 796m; then from 10km they faced another ascent of Le Collet, this time to 1,101m, followed by another 143m to Hohneck. A high rolling plateau led to Le Markstein at 40km, then it was downhill for the majority of the next 30km to the feeding zone. Once through, the climbers began to battle for the points on the Col du Firstplan, topping out at 714m, then a fast descent and gentle climb led to Munster and the first passage of the finish line. Passing straight over it, the riders approached the last mountain (and the climbers' last chance for points), 875m Le Reid; the parcours then descended all the way to 110km ready for a gentle climb back to the finish line 3.9km away.

Five riders led by Andrea Dvorak made their escape as soon as the race got under way and worked hard, building a lead of 1'30". Unless they experienced a miracle, none of them really had any chance of taking the overall GC (Amélie Rivat, with the lowest time among them, started with a disadvantage of 4'09").

A superb ride by Dahlia Muccioli netted her the Youth
classification and proves that she's a rider with
enormous potential for the future.

Evelyn Stevens (Specialized-Lululemon) didn't need to win today - she started with a 10" advantage and, provided she'd finished in the top three, she'd still have been going home with the trophy. But in women's cycling, the riders don't think that way - when your team battles for every sponsorship Euro it can find, you've got to put in real fan-and-sponsor pleasing spectacular rides (when you have the sort of form that Stevens has found this year - she won the Tour of New Zealand, the Waalse Pijl, the Gracia Orlova and came third overall at the Giro Donne - why not go for as glorious a victory as you can?) - so, she gave chase; a move not without risk because Christine Majerus and Kristin McGrath (USA) went with her. Majerus, who started +5'19", was unlikely to be a threat but McGrath had started only 25" down and looked very dangerous indeed. The slightest misjudgement on Stevens' part - even a tiny over-estimation of her energy reserves - could have ruined her chances and handed the race on a plate to McGrath. Make no mistake - having added a whole minute to her advantage on the tough parcours, this was indeed a glorious victory by any standards.

Special mention must go to Be Pink's Dahlia Muccioli - the nineteen-year-old, who is in her first professional season, really has been the sensation of the race with top ten finished on two mountain stages and an overall time only 5'27" greater than the vastly more experienced Stevens, putting her into first place in the Young Riders category. She is, without any doubt, a rider with a very great future ahead of her; and if she doesn't win several major races over the coming decade many of those who have followed her performance over the last nine days will be very surprised indeed. (Results below)

Stage 9 result

  1. Evelyn Stevens Specialized-Lululemon 3h14'11" 

  2. Carlee Taylor Vienne Futuroscope +45" 

  3. Kristin McGrath USA ST 

  4. Lucinda Brand AA Drink-Leontien.nl +02'34" 

  5. Karol-Ann Canual Vienne Futuroscope +02'51" 

  6. Grete Treier S.C. Michela Fanini-Rox ST 

  7. Amélie Rivat Vienne Futuroscope ST 

  8. Flavia Oliviera Forno D'Asolo Colavita ST

  9. Dahlia Muccioli Be Pink ST 

  10. Edwige Pitel France ST 

Full stage result

Final General Classification
  1. Evelyn Stevens Specialized-Lululemon 25h12'10"
  2. Kristin McGrath USA +01'10"
  3. Carlee Taylor Vienne Futuroscope +01'51"
  4. Lise Olivier Lotto-Belisol +3'01"
  5. Lucinda Brand AA Drink-Leontien.nl +03'37"
  6. Edwige Pital     France    +04'02"
  7. Inga Cilvinaite Diadora-Pasta Zara +04'57"
  8. Grete Treier S.C. Michela Fanini-Rox +05'07"
  9. Karol-Ann Canuel Vienne Futuroscope +05'14"
  10. Dahlia Muccioli Be Pink +05'27"

Final Youth category
  1. Dahlia Muccioli Be Pink 25h17'37"
  2. Lucie Pader GSD-Gestion +12'10" 
  3. Katie Colclough Specialized-Lululemon +19'06" 
  4. Kaitlin Antonneau USA +31'41"

Teams
  1. Vienne Futuroscope 75h49'48"
  2. USA +04'22"
  3. Be Pink +16'05"
  4. AA Drink-Leontien.nl +16'13"
  5. Forno D'Asolo Colavita +35'01"
  6. S.C. Michela Fanini-Rox +48'17"
  7. GSD-Gestion +51'07"
  8. France +53'03

Overview
La Route has been an absolutely fantastic race, not least of all for the organisers' admirable refusal to believe that female professional cyclists can't cope with the same sort of mountains that the men climb - the final three stages would have been considered tough in the Tour de France. The level of competition has been first-rate, just as anyone who knows anything at all about women's cycling would have expected (know what I mean, McQuaid?), and Evelyn Stevens is a deserving and heroic victor.

Race coverage has been exceptionally bad. We expect this in the mainstream media, of course, because the majority of the bike magazines and websites devote at best only a few lines of text to women's races. (VeloNews seems to have been the only mainstream source to have even mentioned the race.) However, the organisers could also do with learning a lesson or two here - other than posting the results on the official website, photos on their FaceBook page and the odd Tweet or two, they've provided very little information on how the race has panned out. Fans have, as always, risen to the occasion and swapped as much news as they can; but very little news has been available. Yes they're running on a tight budget, but providing Twitter updates and a brief report on each stage every day would have cost very little - possibly even nothing. La Route has the potential to join the Giro Donne as one of the Grand Tours of women's cycling, even though the sport is in an abysmal state in France; but if the organisers don't think seriously about how they're going to make it possible for fans to follow it the race could all too easily vanish forever, just like the Tour de France. That really must not be allowed to happen.