Annemiek van Vleuten in dramatic finish to La Course 2018

    Annemiek van Vleuten defended her La Course title in a dramatic finish to the Tour de France organiser’s women’s event.

    The 35-year-old Dutch rider beat compatriot and Olympic champion Anna van der Breggen by jumping ahead in the last 25 metres of the finale.

    The race saw 112 riders from 20 teams covering the 112.5km ride from Annecy to Le Grand-Bornand, using a similar route to Tuesday's stage 10 of the men's Tour.

    Organisers ASO have come under scrutiny for cutting the amount of race days from two last year to one, with members of the women’s peloton asking for more parity with the men’s event.

    Australia's Amanda Spratt, who finished eighth, told ITV4: "I like that it was a proper mountain stage and I'm grateful for that, but we want to be pushing for more days and a full Tour would be great."

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