Lepistö sprints to podium in La Course

Lotta Lepistö sprinted to second, while Joelle Numainville was fourth, during La Course by Le Tour de France on Sunday. The race which takes place on the Champs Élysees on the last day of the Tour de France was contested in great weather conditions.

The race came down to a bunch sprint with Lepistö finishing behind winner, Chloe Hosking (Wiggle High5). Marianne Vos (Rabo Liv) was third as Numainville finished behind the 2014 winner.

“Joelle was so great today. She was so aggressive,” Lepistö said after climbing off the podium. “She was always in the front. We were well positioned coming into the sprint and I shouted at her to open the leadout. We started one second too late and the other teams went. We are happy with this result, I felt so good today. In Thuringen last week I was struggling with my ITB but the soigneurs did a great job in massaging me every day and the legs were amazing today.”

Numainville was aggressive trying to force several breakaways during the second part of the race, forcing the sprinters teams to chase. Lepistö was well positioned paying close attention to the front. Several riders went off the front but none got a significant gap.

Ellen van Dijk (Boels Dolmans) was the last rider to attack with 2 kilometres to go. She immediately got a gap which forced a reaction from the peloton. Numainville was seen bringing Lepistö to the front with the two riders in constant communication.

“I had super legs today. I wanted to go in the break but it didn’t work out that way,” Numainville said. "In the final it was chaotic. When the speed increased with 2km to go it was much better because the speed was so high no one could pass. I started the race towards the back and there was a crash early on so I realised I need to go to the front and I stayed there the whole race so we could protect Lotta. I’ve been on super form the last weeks. I’m happy to show it on such a big occasion here,” the former Canadian national champion commented.