Route de France Internationale Féminine (aka Women's TdF)

davidof

I don't know if anyone has seen but the Route de France Internationale Féminine stage race (a women's Tour de France - 7 regions, 17 departments, 180 towns, 830km) is on at the moment until the 10th August 2013 (thanks to Marion Rousse for the heads-up).



http://www.org-rc.fr/acceuil.php?page=2013/resultat.php

The prolog was taken by the superb Emma Johansson. Amongst the other starters I noticed Tatiana Guderzo who had a good Giro Rosa, Evelyn Stevens, Pauline Ferrand Prevot, Tiff Cromwell, Emma Trott, Lizzy Armistead, Sharon Laws and Lucy Garner. On form Giorga Bronzini, la Marion Rousse... and many others.


Bronzini takes the 1st stage (4 August)

davidof

https://www.facebook.com/LaRouteDeFranc ... rnationale

Richmond Racer

And...La Bronzini's taken the wins on Stages 1 and 2

Wiggle Honda's on a bit of a roll at the moment...

skavanagh.bikeradar

That campaign worked quickly to get a women's Tour up and running.

gpreeves

Are there any highlights of this anywhere?

I can't help but feel women's cycling isn't doing itself any favours with the promotion of the sport, I know half a dozen people who could easily produce a better website than this one in an afternoon:

http://www.org-rc.fr/index.php

davidof

I agree. There are some fundamentals to fix before this side of the sport progresses.

gpreeves

It's a shame. I'm not often a fan of women's sport, but from what I've seen of women's cycling it has the potential to be every bit as exciting as the male version. As a result I'm in favour of greater coverage of female races, provided this can be achieved on commercial terms. This seems unlikely as long as the sport is promoted in such an amateur (probably literally) fashion.

Richmond Racer

gpreeves wrote:

Are there any highlights of this anywhere?

I can't help but feel women's cycling isn't doing itself any favours with the promotion of the sport, I know half a dozen people who could easily produce a better website than this one in an afternoon:

http://www.org-rc.fr/index.php

None that I can track down so far. Its a real shame.

gpreeves

Nice preview of the race on here:

http://velofocus.com/2013/preview-route-de-france-2013/

and

http://velofocus.com/2013/preview-route-de-france-stage-4-to-7/

davidof

PFP



Hope she has a window box.

MrTapir

davidof wrote:

PFP



Hope she has a window box.

I see the tradition of the podium girls in men's racing is similarly reciprocated in the the women's events.

davidof

another win for Georgia Bronzini, Emma Johansson in second and Lizzie Armitstead up there in 3rd.

gpreeves

Pleased to see Lizzie in the mix for the win. I'm hoping somebody can challenge Bronzini for the stage tomorrow, although another bunch sprint is likely.

gpreeves

MrTapir wrote:

davidof wrote:

PFP



Hope she has a window box.

I see the tradition of the podium girls in men's racing is similarly reciprocated in the the women's events.

He really is a fine specimen. Can't understand why he looks so miserable, I'd be grinning like an idiot if I were standing next to PFP.

davidof

Interestingly Laurent Bezault of ASO at the start line today checking up what all the fuss is about ladies racing bikes.

davidof

Ashleigh Moolman out due to a crash and in hospital.

Richmond Racer

Aaaaaaaand...Bronzini wins her 4th consecutive stage

Ron Stuart

Richmond Racer wrote:

Aaaaaaaand...Bronzini wins her 4th consecutive stage

Apart from this week there has also been this from Bronzini....

1st Classica Citta di Padova
1st Stage 1 GP Elsy Jacobs
1st Knokke-Heist - Bredene
1st Stage 2 Tour of Chongming Island
1st Overall Tour of Zhoushan Island

Not bad eh!

Richmond Racer

Ron Stuart wrote:

Richmond Racer wrote:

Aaaaaaaand...Bronzini wins her 4th consecutive stage

Does she have more wins than Cav yet?

And she's won the Worlds more times

davidof

Hmmm that drinks bottle looks familiar

Ron Stuart

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bronzin ... -de-france

Le Commentateur

And another one.

Richmond Racer

La Bronzini really is something else

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/five-st ... -de-france

She attacked at 30km to go as part of a plan to help her team mate get the leader's jersey, is out on her own for 10-15km with a gap out to 50secs at its peak, sits up and waits for the bunch, and still has it to win the sprint

davidof

even the "real time" facebook coverage of the stages is poor. No update as to who is in the breaks etc.

Richmond Racer

davidof wrote:

even the "real time" facebook coverage of the stages is poor. No update as to who is in the breaks etc.

The best live tweeting from the race is coming from @richiesteege

gpreeves

I wish she'd stop winning, it's about time somebody else had a chance.

poppit

Overall the wiggle girls have done pretty well, won everything.

davidof

oh no, more bloody flowers!

Lizzie Armistead 2nd on a hard last stage
PFP best young rider



Linda Melanie Villumsen comes over the line after a long solo break to take the stage and overall. There was no wiggle room for other teams. 28 year old Danish born Villumsen now rides under a New Zealand license.

knedlicky

davidof wrote:

Lizzie Armistead 2nd on a hard last stage

Seems Linda Villumsen countered an attack by Evelyn Stevens and Alena Amialyusik on the Col de Dun, and then took off on the descent.

She must have gone like the clappers, doing her own private TT (her speciality), to open up a gap of nearly 6 mins in only 40 km on a strong group of 20 behind her.
Bravo!

Le Commentateur

Good bet for the worlds TT this year then. Usually on the podium for that. So manybe Wiggle could take both the road race and time trial this year, though a bit early to speculate perhaps.

mmacavity

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b039g3tk