La Course 2017: Stage 1 Briancon - Izoard ***Spoilers****

Pross

Just to demonstrate a spirit of equality in light of recent threads, this starts tomorrow and as it's live on ITV4 from 9am I thought it should have it's own thread.

Race distance is 67.5km to finish on the Izoard with a slight twist in that those finishing within 5 minutes of the winner get to ride Stage 2 which is a pursuit time trial in Marseille. Could be an interesting format.

From the presentation of the 2017 Tour de France, we knew that the women's peloton would be tackling the mythical Col d'Izoard as part of the 4th edition of La Course by Le Tour on Thursday 20th July. We now know that the ascent, eagerly awaited by the riders, will be followed by another equally unusual experience a few days later. To coincide with the time trial to be held in Marseille the day before the final stage of the 2017 Tour de France, the ladies with the best times at Col d'Izoard will be invited to ride the 23-kilometre route around the Orange Vélodrome in an unprecedented and spectacular format: a pursuit!

A legendary mountain pass… to enjoy a unique experience
On Thursday 20th July, just a few hours before the arrival of the peloton of the Tour de France, the ladies will have the honour of fighting it out on the formidable Col d'Izoard as part of the 4th edition of La Course by Le Tour. The rider who raises her arms just after she passes the Casse Déserte will become a cycling legend. However, the stage victory is not the only thing at stake that day. Those ladies who finish within 5 minutes of the winner will earn the right to take part in an exceptional event just 48 hours later. On Saturday 22nd July, the day before the arrival of the Tour de France in Paris, and with a start and finish inside the mythical Orange Vélodrome, they will participate in a completely new race format. This will delight not only the riders but also the 67,000 spectators expected in the stadium that day, as well as the fans along the roads leading to Marseille.

Lanterne_Rogue

Jo Rowsell-Shand, grabbed by the ITV podcast, suggested that nobody has a clue what'll happen because it's a weird stage - big climb, no real build-up.

Hoping for fireworks. (also, thanks for starting!)

RonB

See what you mean. Lots of spinning/ warming up before the start.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Go go go!

https://www.itv.com/hub/itv4

bflk

tx for starting the thread, will be interesting!

blazing_saddles

Well done, Pross.
I made a thread too and it started pretty much the same.
The PC brigade go absent when they should be present and leave it to us moderates!

I'll add some of the bits I'd put in.

Start time 10:10cet
Map:-



Last Kms:-


Start list:-

http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/La_ ... _Startlist

above_the_cows

I like this route, purely because it is a stage I have actually ridden. The Dutch are seriously hoping for an Annemiek van Vleuten win.

blazing_saddles

Chute. Sunweb rider.

Pross

I really don't know much about the women likely to challenge on this course. What little women's cycling we get to see tends to be Classics style stuff so I don't even know if there are really any specialist climbers. I've got ITV on in the background next door but really need to get some work done to try to catch the Tour stage later. I'm hoping to see the actual climb and it will be interesting to see the respective climb times with the men's race later. Given the women are likely to be lighter and much fresher there really shouldn't be much in it should there?

above_the_cows

This is another lovely road.

blazing_saddles

Riders being dropped all over the place even before they get close to the climb.

above_the_cows

Pross wrote:

I really don't know much about the women likely to challenge on this course. What little women's cycling we get to see tends to be Classics style stuff so I don't even know if there are really any specialist climbers. I've got ITV on in the background next door but really need to get some work done to try to catch the Tour stage later. I'm hoping to see the actual climb and it will be interesting to see the respective climb times with the men's race later. Given the women are likely to be lighter and much fresher there really shouldn't be much in it should there?

Seeing as Pooley and Abbott no longer race then the proper climbers have disappeared.

above_the_cows

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Riders being dropped all over the place even before they get close to the climb.

They've not hung around since the start, Boels and Orica have been pushing hard on the front from the off.

wallace_and_gromit

Pross wrote:

Given the women are likely to be lighter and much fresher there really shouldn't be much in it should there?

It's all power to weight uphill. Even the skinniest female cyclist carries more bodyfat than a typical male pro and I think lean mass for lean mass, guys are more powerful than the ladies.

Emma Pooley is Strava QoM on Alpe D'Huez @ just under 50 minutes (one off ride, I think) compared to 42 minutes for Pinot for the guys (stage 20 in 2015 so presumably very unfresh at that stage).

So I'd estimate the guys will be 15% faster give or take. One thing is for sure, there will be many Weekend Warriors getting chicked on Strava today!

Lanterne_Rogue

Not sure I like the stage design - it feels a bit like a mass start time trial, if you know what I mean. No space or opportunity for any tactics.

The_Boy

What's the ETA for the start of the climb? Was looking forward to this but have had to take little man out while the other half decorates. Might be able to watch on my phone if he times his sleep properly tho.

above_the_cows

underlayunderlay wrote:

Not sure I like the stage design - it feels a bit like a mass start time trial, if you know what I mean. No space or opportunity for any tactics.

It's really very short. They've basically got to the foot of the Izoard in an hour as it was mostly just a mad dash down the valley.

wombly_knees

underlayunderlay wrote:

Not sure I like the stage design - it feels a bit like a mass start time trial, if you know what I mean. No space or opportunity for any tactics.

like this?

fat daddy

Is this going to be covered by a highlights show anywhere ? Eurosport, ITV4 ???

imatfaal

Wallace and Gromit wrote:

Pross wrote:

Given the women are likely to be lighter and much fresher there really shouldn't be much in it should there?

It's all power to weight uphill. Even the skinniest female cyclist carries more bodyfat than a typical male pro and I think lean mass for lean mass, guys are more powerful than the ladies.

Emma Pooley is Strava QoM on Alpe D'Huez @ just under 50 minutes (one off ride, I think) compared to 42 minutes for Pinot for the guys (stage 20 in 2015 so presumably very unfresh at that stage).

So I'd estimate the guys will be 15% faster give or take. One thing is for sure, there will be many Weekend Warriors getting chicked on Strava today!

There could be some serious times on this - most of the serious male riders who have set great times on Izoard will be after a terrible day in saddle - the women will hit this fresh. Izoard in the other direction the KOM is the QOM - Emma Pooley. Struggling to find decent Izoard from the South on Strava. And I love the phrase "getting chicked on strava" - I was completely schooled by a pair of women who had serious pace a few nights ago; just about hung on for a couple of miles but got a set of PB's for my wheelsucking.

wallace_and_gromit

imatfaal wrote:

And I love the phrase "getting chicked on strava"

I am very versatile. I can be chicked in the water, on the bike and running!

bflk

Not heard that phrase 'chicked on Strava' before but if you live near Katie Archibald its pretty routine :-)

micrographia

imatfaal wrote:

Wallace and Gromit wrote:

Pross wrote:

Given the women are likely to be lighter and much fresher there really shouldn't be much in it should there?

It's all power to weight uphill. Even the skinniest female cyclist carries more bodyfat than a typical male pro and I think lean mass for lean mass, guys are more powerful than the ladies.

Emma Pooley is Strava QoM on Alpe D'Huez @ just under 50 minutes (one off ride, I think) compared to 42 minutes for Pinot for the guys (stage 20 in 2015 so presumably very unfresh at that stage).

So I'd estimate the guys will be 15% faster give or take. One thing is for sure, there will be many Weekend Warriors getting chicked on Strava today!

There could be some serious times on this - most of the serious male riders who have set great times on Izoard will be after a terrible day in saddle - the women will hit this fresh. Izoard in the other direction the KOM is the QOM - Emma Pooley. Struggling to find decent Izoard from the South on Strava. And I love the phrase "getting chicked on strava" - I was completely schooled by a pair of women who had serious pace a few nights ago; just about hung on for a couple of miles but got a set of PB's for my wheelsucking.

Lots of women above me on some of the leaderboards around here after the Tour de Yorkshire this year. Excellent to see. Speaking of the TdY, Lizzy looking good so far today with a strong team around her.

above_the_cows

Vos out the back.

wallace_and_gromit

bflk wrote:

Not heard that phrase 'chicked on Strava' before but if you live near Katie Archibald its pretty routine :-)

I was seriously "chicked" when the Tour de Yorkshire tackled a couple of my regular climbs. :oops:

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Here comes Izoard proper for the Villumson, her lead is dropping from the chasing group.

imatfaal

The_Boy wrote:

What's the ETA for the start of the climb? Was looking forward to this but have had to take little man out while the other half decorates. Might be able to watch on my phone if he times his sleep properly tho.

They have just passed the 14km mark which is the beginning of the climb - about 50mins to the line

philwint

Other than the Brits I'm pretty ignorant of the personalities in womens cycling. So after being enthralled by Orica's backstage passes of the Giro Rosa I'm willing the Aussie team on...

With a reserve (virtual) bet on Lizzie

The_Boy

imatfaal wrote:

The_Boy wrote:

What's the ETA for the start of the climb? Was looking forward to this but have had to take little man out while the other half decorates. Might be able to watch on my phone if he times his sleep properly tho.

They have just passed the 14km mark which is the beginning of the climb - about 50mins to the line

Ah, fucksticks. I'll probably need to find some highlights it a torrent this evening then.

bobmcstuff

Just tired it on, nice and sunny - contrasts with the forecast rain for the men?

Couple of riders just pinging off the front

philwint

Boels trying to do a Sky and 4 off the front (not in a single group)

edit - i'm watching with no sound, so don't know who they are