Anna van der Breggen wins La Course by Le Tour in heavy rain
Last Updated: 26/07/15 4:16pm
The Netherlands' Anna van der Breggen held on by one second to win the second edition of La Course by Le Tour in Paris.
Van der Breggen (Rabobank-Liv) broke clear of the peloton inside the final 5km and just managed to maintain her advantage to the line on the Champs-Elysees.
Jolien D'hoore (Wiggle Honda) finished second and Amy Pieters (Liv-Plantur) third, with Britain's Lizzie Armitstead (Boels Rentals) taking fourth.
Van der Breggen's attack came with the peloton struggling to cope with heavy rain that caused slippery conditions, most notably on the paved section inside the final 1km of each 7km circuit.
Armitstead said: "Anna made the perfect move at the right time. She has the French world champion [Pauline Ferrand-Prevot] and the teams watched her instead. Credit to Anna.
"I felt very comfortable all day. I wasn't really under pressure and I was happy to stay up front. I'm disappointed in my sprint. I thought I would have had more. I'm sure it will come back."
The Orica-AIS team tried on a number of occasions to get a rider clear of the leading group, but attempts from Gracie Elvin, Lizzie Williams and Melissa Hoskins were all negated.
Crashes saw the peloton reduced in number, with dangerous sprinters Barbara Guarischi (Velocio-SRAM) and Elena Cecchini (Lotto Soudal) among those to see their hopes of victory dashed.
Van der Breggen, who recently won the women's Giro d'Italia thanks to a victory in the time trial, made her move just before the field rounded the Arc de Triomphe for the final time, moving six seconds ahead.
But with the peloton so reduced, teams were unable to muster a full chase and Van der Breggen still had a handy advantage as the remaining sprinters finally made their move in the last 750m.
British champion Armitstead avoided much of the carnage, but she was unable to catch Van der Breggen in the closing sprint.
La Course by Le Tour de France result
1 Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Rabobank-Liv 2:05:01
2 Jolien D'Hoore (Bel) Wiggle Honda, +1sec
3 Amy Pieters (Ned) Liv-Plantur, same time
4 Lizzie Armitstead (Gbr) Boels-Dolmans, st
5 Lotta Lepisto (Fin) Bigla Pro Cycling, st
6 Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Velocio-SRAM, st
7 Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica-AIS, st
8 Lucinda Brand (Ned) Rabobank-Liv, st
9 Kirsten Wild (Ned) Hitec Products, st
10 Christine Majerus (Lux) Boels-Dolmans, st
