Amid great interest, Kasia Niewiadoma ensured the 8th place in part 2 of La Course on Saturday noon, having just about outsprinted Ashleigh Moolman in the Vélodrome in Marseille. The pursuit-style time trial in the Southern French city was won by Annemiek van Vleuten.
This year, La Course consisted of 2 parts. Van Vleuten already took the victory on Thursday in the mountain stage to the top of the Col d’Izoard. The time gap which she accumulated on her competitors, was her advantage in the pursuit (22.5 kilometres) on Saturday. The best 19 riders of Thursday’s stage, including Kasia, were allowed to participate.
Our Polish rider started 2 minutes and 52 seconds after van Vleuten. The rider ahead of Kasia, the Colombian Ana Sanabria, left the departure podium 28 seconds earlier. Soon after, both tried to close the gap with the group in front of them. “I was hoping for some hesitation in that group, but they were working very well together”, says Kasia. She dropped Sanabria, but got company from Moolman who started the pursuit 24 seconds later. Kasia narrowly defeated her in a sprint in the stadium with 4 minutes and 35 seconds behind the winner van Vleuten.
Getting used to the format
Kasia is excited about the renewed, two-fold concept of La Course. “It is refreshing that a new format is being tried. Both the riders and the spectators have to get used to it, but, as far as I’m concerned, we will see this type of concepts more often in the future. It is attractive racing.”
DS Jeroen Blijlevens is equally enthusiastic about the changes which the organization has implemented. In terms of tactics, the approach for this edition of La Course is totally different. “It was the first time, so there is room for improvement, but I am positive about the initiative”, according to Blijlevens. “It is in any case encouraging for our sport that we have had 2 days of exposure.”
