Female TdF

[Keith Oates]

I see that Nicole Cooke is riding this one again, let's hope she can get a win as she needs a boost before the Olympics get going!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dave5N]

Maybe. It's hers to lose.

 

[Keith Oates]

Doesn't look as if she's going to get the win this year, so far her year hasn't been very good by her standards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Keith Oates]

3rd in the final GC, I was hoping for better but let's hope her Olympic preparation is going the way she wants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dave5N]

You're right, dissappointing. She has been so exceptional though, I'll alolw her a dip in form particularly in a year with such different goals.

 

[Skip Madness]

I have been following this race as closely as possible, but obviously it (and women's cycling generally) doesn't get anything like the coverage some of us would hope. Anyway, I was checking the official website at velo-feminin.com and there's a very interesting interview here with the Grande Boucle's race director, Pierre Boué:

Votre projection sur le futur ?

Pierre Boué : L’avenir, c’est continuer, bien sûr, avec une épreuve de 7 jours. Les nouveautés de l’année prochaine : un départ probable d’Angleterre, une arrivée qui reste secrète. Les équipes seront composées désormais de 8 concurrentes, 2 kinés, 1 mécano et 1 directeur sportif. Nous officialiserons notre intention de remettre une caravane publicitaire. Une étape en semi-nocturne sera prévue. Enfin, la couverture télévisuelle sera augmentée autant par la durée que par la qualité. Pour les animations, nous comptons remettre une banda (une fanfare) et nous espérons fermement que notre Ami « El Diablo » sera présent.

Any idea for the future of the race?

Pierre Boué : Well, to go ahead for certain with a race of 7 days length. New aspects for next year: a probable depart from England and an arrival that remains secret. Teams will be made up of 8 riders, 2 (?), 1 mechanic and 1 DS. We'll make official our intention to reinstate the publicity caravan and hopefully a semi-evening stage. Also, the television coverage should be longer and better. We hope our friend The Devil will be present.

How cool does that sound? This is the first year I've really started following women's cycling, and this has sprung up. I really hope it comes to fruition.

On the race itself, Thürig's time-trial sounds incredible so I wouldn't be too down on Nicole Cooke about it, although I had high hopes for that final stage for her. What I find interesting is that Soeder went for it when Thürig was hardly likely to be caught by anyone else. Don't get me wrong, if Soeder was the strongest then she has every right to demonstrate that, but given that in that interview I linked to above Boué suggested it might have been Thürig's last Boucle, you'd think her own team-mate might have just eased off.

 

[Keith Oates]

Interesting comments, Skip Madness, and a London depart next year should hopefully create some more interest in the UK at least. As for Nicole I don't think any of us have a down on her, in fact to the contrary, we are all hoping that she will continue to do well in the future!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!