La Course 2019: The Route

Slideshow 1/3

Friday 19 July - This year's La Course is a hilly circuit race of 121 kilometres with start and finish in Pau. The route features five laps with two climbs each, Côte de Gelos and Côte d'Esquillot. Inside the last 500 metres the women tackle a short ramp at 17%.

Last year’s La Course served a mesmerizing finale. During a race over four intermediate climbs Van der Breggen attacked in the last kilometre of the Col de la Colombière, which was the last ascent. She crested the summit a handful of seconds ahead of Van Vleuten, who kept chasing in the 15 kilometres downhill. Van Vleuten overhauled her compatriot in the dying metres to win La Course for the second consecutive year.

The 2019 edition is not played out in the high mountains, but it is a hilly race around Pau. The women tackle the route of the ITT on the Tour de France, although the women cover the course four times fully. The Côte de Gelos and Côte d’Esquillot are the major obstacles in each lap.

The last passage over the Esquillot is with 11.5 kilometres out, while the finale features a short and sharp climb on the Rue Mulot. The 17% ramp can make or break an attack as it is situated inside the last 500 metres.

Another interesting read: results/race report La Course 2019.