2020 La Course Race Preview
The details of this year's 2020 La Course are falling into place. Find the latest route profiles and maps below, followed by our strategic preview of the race.
The peloton arrives in Nice for one of the most eagerly anticipated editions of La Course by Le Tour de France, a race that has grown in stature and ambition since its inception in 2014. This year the organisers have crafted a demanding parcours that should produce a worthy champion, with the action set to unfold on terrain that will test the climbers and the tactically astute in equal measure.
The race will take place on the same roads used by the Tour de France in its opening stages, giving the women's peloton a rare opportunity to showcase their talents on a grand stage in front of the large crowds that line the sun-baked roads of the CĂ´te d'Azur. The finish atop the Col de la Colmiane gives the race genuine mountain credentials, and the route promises to reward those who can sustain their power over a prolonged and punishing ascent.
Anna van der Breggen arrives as one of the outstanding favourites, the Dutch climber having demonstrated throughout her career that she thrives on exactly this kind of finale. Her SD Worx squad is formidable and will likely control the race through the early and middle portions before unleashing their leader at the decisive moment.
Annemiek van Vleuten is another name that demands attention. The Mitchelton Scott rider has been in exceptional form and possesses the climbing ability to match or exceed anyone else in the field on a finish like this one. She and van der Breggen between them have dominated the major stage races and classics in recent seasons, and a battle between them on the final climb would be a magnificent spectacle.
Amanda Spratt provides her team with a useful alternative option, while Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig of FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope will be looking to use her climbing fluency and aggressive racing style to disrupt the plans of the established favourites. The young Danish rider is never afraid to attack from distance and could prove a dangerous wildcard if she gets the opportunity to impose her instincts on the race.
Trek Segafredo bring a strong roster and will be looking to Lucinda Brand and Elisa Longo Borghini to feature prominently, with Longo Borghini in particular capable of performing at a high level in mountainous terrain. Canyon SRAM and their riders will also be watching for opportunities as the race develops.
The weather in Nice looks set to be warm and clear, which will suit an attacking style of racing. Expect the early kilometres to be relatively controlled before teams begin to manoeuvre for position as the roads begin to tilt upward. The final climb will be the moment of truth, and those who have saved something in reserve while others have chased shadows on the lower slopes will be best placed to contest the finale.
This is a race with genuine depth and quality, and on a finish that demands climbing ability above all else, the outcome should be decided by the very best the sport has to offer.
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