Race Report: Route de France Feminine UCI 2.1 Tour

After nine days of being in the same basic routine of racing, eating, sleeping and travelling the days get somewhat blurred together but some really great memories remain that stand out from the rest.

Spending so much time on the road together it is nice to get to know some of the other riders in the bunch. Almost every woman in professional cycling has an interesting story worth telling of how they ended up at this point in their lives. To keep things fun and entertaining along the way we made up well suited nicknames for many riders in the bunch. In an effort not to get ridden off the road at our next race these will stay within our team for now J

During the 9 days of racing from the North to the East of France we covered a total of 930km. The first 6 stages were mostly flat and somewhat windy and then we headed east for the final 3 hilly stages. Here is a quick recap of all the stages.

Stage 1: Saint Pol Sur Mer, 5.1km Prologue

The race started in the harbour city of Dunkerque in the north of France. This city with a lot of war history, which includes World War II battles, again saw a battle for supremacy on its streets during the 5.1km prologue. This time around it was not just a fight between Spain, Netherlands, England and France but rather a battle between 10 UCI Teams from all over the globe as well as the French and US National Teams. It was the Belarusian, Alena Amialiusik, from the Be Pink team that walked away with the yellow jersey just 2 seconds ahead of the American, Evelyn Stevens of Team Specialized-Lululemon.

1. Alena Amialiusik, Be Pink (Belarusia)

2. Evelyn Stevens, Team Specialized-Lululemon (USA)

3. Kristin McGrath, US National Team (USA)

Dunkerque harbour and the view from our hotel room

Stage 2: Dunkerque to Noeux Les Mines, 102.4km

This stage marked the biggest highlight of the tour for me with teammate Cherise Taylor doing an astounding job by winning the stage in a bunch sprint. What a feeling! Cherise has proven once again that she is in a class of her own amongst the South African women when it comes to battling it out in a sprint for the line in Europe. Teammate Ann Sophie Duyck was in a solo break for 65km from the start of the race and was awarded the prize for the most aggressive rider on the day for her brave effort. Two teammates on the podium was not a bad start to the tour for the team. Alena Amialiusik remained in yellow after the stage.

1. Cherise Taylor, Lotto Belisol (South Africa)

2. Chloe Hosking, Team Specialized-Lululemon (Australia)

3. Olena Andruk, Vaiano Tepso (Ukrain)

Podium after stage 1 with Cherise Taylor and Ann Sophie Duyck

Stage 3: Noeux Les Mines to Tergnier, 130.7km

I have learnt in cycling to expect the unexpected. Today was no different. On a flat, windy and rainy stage (not my favourite racing conditions by any means) I end up in a break after countless attacks in the gutter sections. Seeing a break go with two riders from strong teams I jumped across (ok it was more like dragged myself over to them). After taking a minute to catch my breath we worked well together to establish a lead over the chasing bunch. We were away for about 10 minutes when 4 more riders bridged the gap. At any given time there were only about 4 of us contributing to the break but knowing that we could gain valuable seconds in the general classification standings I put in a 100% effort. Gaining as much time as possible was more important to me than saving energy for the sprint. Knowing that I probably was not going to be able to climb with the best riders in the race these would prove to be important seconds when we got to the mountain stages. We finished 1:39 ahead of the chasing bunch with the Dutch rider, Lucinda Brand, from the AA Drink team crossing the line 1^st. Amanda Miller from the US National Team took over the yellow jersey. After finishing 6^th in the break I moved up into 7^th on the general classification.

1. Lucinda Brand, AA Drink (Netherlands)

2. Inga Cilvinaita, Diadora-Pasta Zara (Lithuania)

3. Silvia Valsecchi, Be Pink (Italy)

Stage 4: Soissons to Pontault-Combault, 110.6km

It was an interesting start location in one of the most ancient towns of France with pretty ruins and cathedrals. The racing was not so interesting though after a break of two riders went up the road and ended up staying away till the finish. Having the US National Team controlling the race gave us a bit of time to recover from the efforts of yesterday. Chloe Hosking won the bunch sprint for 3^rd place and Cherise was the top finisher of our team coming in 9^th. Amanda Miller retained the yellow jersey and I stayed in 7^th on the general classification.

1. Simona Frapporti, Be Pink (Italy)

2. Valentina Bastianelli, Vaiano Tepso (Italy)

3. Chloe Hosking, Team Specialized-Lululemon (Australia)

Before the start of stage 4 with Cherise Taylor and Ann Sophie Duyck

Stage 5: Pontault-Combault to Chalette Sur Loing, 125.3km

After a controlled race yesterday it looked like the teams were ready to race with attacks going left, right and centre which made for a really fast and hard stage. Cherise spent the whole day up front covering moves so that I could rest my legs for the remaining stages. The stage came down to a bunch sprint with no attacks being able to stay clear of the chasing bunch for very long. Chloe Hosking claimed the stage win after an impressive lead out by her Specialized-Lululemon team. The general classification remained mostly unchanged from the previous day.

1. Chloe Hosking, Team Specialized-Lululemon (Australia)

2. Olena Andruk, Vaiano Tepso (Ukrain)

3. Fiona Dutriaux, Vienne Futuroscope (France)

Stage 6: Dijon Bourgogne to Arc et Senans, 99.8km

For those of you who were wondering about the city of Dijon…Dijon Mustard did actually originate here in 1856.

From the start all the teams seemed happy to let the US National Team control the stage for Amanda Miller in yellow. The thought of approaching mountains might have been in the back of the minds of most riders today which helped to calm down the bunch. With only having one teammate left in the race I was happy about a bit of an easier day. Towards the end of the stage the pace picked up as the teams were trying to set up their riders for the sprint. It was another victory for Team Specialized-Lululemon with Loren Rowney crossing the line 1^st. No real change in the overall standings.

1. Loren Rowney, Team Specialized-Lululemon (Australia)

2. Olena Andruk, Vaiano Tepso (Ukrain)

3. Giada Borgato, Diadora-Pasta Zara (Italy)

Stage 7: Morteau to La Planche des Belles Filles, 126.4km

The race started in the beautiful town of Morteau which is within close proximity of Switzerland. La Planche des Belles Filles, final climb of the day, was also the finish for stage 7 of the Tour de France this year which was won by Chris Froome. He made it look easy and the pictures really does not do it justice. You climb 5.9km (3.7mi) to the finish at 1,035m (3,396ft), gaining 503m (1,650ft) at an average gradient of 8.5% with a part that is between 22-28% near the finish. This is the type of climbing that I expected in the Giro Donne this year.

The Be Pink team attacked through the feed zone and had two riders up the road. With a gap of over 2 minutes at one point teams were forced to bring it back before we got to the last climb of the day. The real racing happened just before the slopes of La Planche des Belles Filles with Team Specialized-Lululemon driving it hard into the climb to set it up for Evelyn Stevens. They did that with great effect as it split up the field as soon as we hit the base of the climb. I missed the initial move up the climb with 4 riders and tried to just ride a good tempo up the climb. Evenlyn Stevens claimed the stage after an impressive ride up the climb and took over the yellow jersey. I finished the stage in 6^th and moved up into 2^nd in the general classification 6 seconds behind the race leader. This was so unexpected that our team left before the podium presentation. I missed getting my first ever podium flowers but was happy with how the day turned out in the end.

1. Evelyn Stevens, Team Specialized-Lululemon (USA)

2. Kristin McGrath, US National Team (USA)

3. Carlee Taylor, Vienne Futuroscope (Australia)

Start in Morteau and the finish at the top of La Planche des Belles Filles

Stage 8: Lure to Saint Die des Vosges, 115.3km

With a break going early in the stage it was up to us and Team Specialized-Lululemon to control the race. Robyn did a stellar job pacing in the front with Team Specialized-Lululemon for most of the day to keep the break within striking distance protecting my overall position. Two riders managed to just stay clear of the chasing bunch in the end. There were no big changes in the general classification and I ended up on the podium for the first time in Europe.

1. Andrea Dvorak, US National Team (USA)

2. Edwige Pitel, French National Team (France)

3. Lucinda Brand, AA Drink (Netherlands)

Podium after stage 8

Stage 9: Corcieux to Munster

Today I will remember as one of the prettiest race routes that I have done. With high mountains, forests, lakes far below in the valley and paragliders spiralling in the air above it really was as good as it gets in terms of race scenery. For a few split seconds I forgot about what lies ahead and enjoyed what was around me.

After a series of attacks on the first climb the bunch split and a break went up the road. It was again up to us and Team Specialized-Lululemon to control the race much like yesterday. Robyn and Katie Colclough did an amazing job in the front for the first half of the race. On the second climb of the day at around 70km the attacks started and when we went over the top there were only about 15 of us left with the break still up the road. We caught the break just before the final climb of the day at 90km. The climb started with an unexpected super steep section and 4 riders, all general classification contenders, got away from the rest of us. After missing the break I paced up the climb trying to minimise the damage as I knew the race deciding move went up the road. Evelyn Stevens, in a class of her own, ended up winning her second stage and the overall classification in fine style. In the end my effort was not enough to hold on to a podium position and I finished 4^th overall in the general classification. It was a slightly disappointing day but I rode my heart out. I came to the race not expecting to do this well and am taking a lot of positives away from this tour.

1. Evelyn Stevens, Team Specialized-Lululemon (USA)

2. Carlee Taylor, Vienne Futuroscope (Australia)

3. Kristin McGrath, US National Team (USA)