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New women’s race, La Course by Le Tour de France

February 4, 2014
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201203081_asoThe Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) recently announced the addition of “La Course by Le Tour de France” to take place on July 27 on the Champs-Élysées. Following a powerful campaign by a group known as Le Tour Entier (LTE) there is finally a race for women tied to the sport’s greatest event. Using the final day of the Tour de France as its back drop, La Course will see the world’s top professional women race a criterium prior to the men’s arrival in Paris. The inauguration of this event was spearheaded by LTE, however, the ASO continues their support of women’s racing. The group has also organized the Ladies Tour of Qatar and the Flèche Wallonne for women. With the largest sporting organization in cycling backing the development of women’s racing, the future appears brighter for cycling as a whole.

Cycling is on the rise in a number of ways. With the recent launch of the documentary film “Half the Road” there is a strengthening movement to improve the playing field for female cyclists racing all over the world. Given that LTE has been working closely with the ASO, perhaps these parallel campaigns mark a new trend for the betterment of women’s racing.

Nevertheless, many question why there aren’t more women’s events aligned with the major and historic men’s races. If nothing else, the addition the La Course by Le Tour de France demonstrates a step toward that end. The last running of a true women’s Tour de France was in 1989. Since that time, there have been annual events that were held and considered to be something akin to a women’s Tour de France. However these races were held with limited backing. There was little media attention relative to the men’s Tour de France. Perhaps cycling fans will see the return of a more tangible women’s Tour de France in the future.

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