CHANGING COURSE
2014
PARIS CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES 89KM
THE FIRST EDITION
It was fitting that the rider to win the first edition of La Course was someone who played an integral part in getting it created. Marianne Vos was part of Le Tour Entier, a group who campaigned and petitioned ASO to create a women’s race at the Tour, and she also won the race’s inaugural sprint in Paris. Held on the same day as the final stage of the men’s Tour, the race featured 13 laps of the famed Champs-Élysées course, with Vos beating Kirsten Wild and Leah Kirchmann to the line.
LEAH KIRCHMANN
“I still remember how big that event was. The whole lead up was so big with the petition and I think it really showed a lot. The riders really banded together and the fans really banded together to say we really want this to happen. I was racing for Optum Pro Cycling, an American based team, at the time. When they finally announced that the race would take place and our team actually got an invitation, it was so exciting to know that we would be lining up there.
“And then the day itself… I remember it was just so magical to be there standing on the start line on the Champs-Élysées. Then to actually finish on the podium that day was a dream come true for me. It was
