2023 Tour Féminin des Pyrénées

The 2023 Tour Féminin des Pyrénées (officially CIC-Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées) was the second edition of Tour Féminin des Pyrénées, a women's road cycling stage race in France. Scheduled to be held between 9 and 11 June, the third stage was abandoned for safety reasons. Marta Cavalli won the general classification at the race; Ashleigh Moolman Pasio and Antonia Niedermaier finished second and third respectively.

2023 Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées
Two women on bicycles. One wearing a yellow top and blue shorts, the other wearing a blue top and black shorts
Ashleigh Moolman Pasio and Grace Brown at the 2023 Tour Féminin des Pyrénées
Race details
Dates9–10 June[lower-alpha 1]
Stages2[lower-alpha 1]
Results
  Winner  Marta Cavalli (ITA) (FDJ–Suez)
  Second  Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (RSA) (AG Insurance–Soudal–Quick-Step)
  Third  Antonia Niedermaier (GER) (Canyon–SRAM)

Background

The 2023 Tour Féminin Pyrénées was scheduled to feature three stages in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées departments of France.[1][2] The race started in Argelès-Gazost, and was scheduled to end in Bosdarros.[3] The race was on an open course, meaning that non-race vehicles could use the roads during the event.[4] Pre-race favourites included Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, Gaia Masetti, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, Clara Koppenburg and Claire Steels.[1]

Route and stages
Stage summaries[2]
Stage Date Course Distance Type Winner Ref
1 9 June Argelès-Gazost to Lourdes 129 km (80 mi) Hilly stage  Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (RSA) [5]
2 10 June Pierrefitte-Nestalas to Hautacam 70.8 km (44.0 mi)[lower-alpha 2] Mountain stage  Marta Cavalli (ITA) [6]
3 11 June Nay to Bosdarros 126 km (78 mi) Hilly stage Stage cancelled.[lower-alpha 1]

Race summary

The first stage started in Argelès-Gazost and ended in Lourdes.[7] There were multiple incidents on the stage, including oncoming vehicles and cars blocking the cyclists' route.[8] Multiple riders had falls and had to be taken to hospital.[4] Cecilie Uttrup-Ludwig almost crashed into a moving car in the last 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) of the event.[9]

The second stage was scheduled for 96 kilometres (60 mi) of racing.[9] Following discussion between teams, the Union Cycliste Internationale and the Cyclistes professionnels associés (CPA), the first 25 kilometres (16 mi) of the stage was neutralised.[7] The competitors were given a choice about racing,[9] and after 28 kilometres (17 mi) of cycling, they came to a stop for safety reasons, primarily after complaints of course motorbikes being too close to the riders.[10] The riders contested the 13.3-kilometre (8.3 mi) climb to Hautacam.[10] With 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) of the stage to go, FDJ–Suez took control of the front of the peloton, and the race finished in a sprint between Marta Cavalli, Ashleigh Moolman Pasio and Antonia Niedermaier. Cavalli won the stage and also took the leader's jersey by three seconds from Moolman Pasio. Niedermaier was in third on the stage at a deficit of eight seconds.[11]

Abandonment

After the second stage, multiple teams including Team Jumbo–Visma and Human Powered Health announced that they planned to withdraw from the race due to safety concerns including pedestrians on the roads, and reckless drivers.[12]

On Sunday morning, 17 of the 23 teams voted to abandon the final stage.[7][4] As a result, the third stage of the race was officially abandoned;[3][4] Marta Cavalli was declared the race winner.[3][4] Following the race abandonment, race director Pascal Baudron criticised the riders, saying that their safety expectations were "not in line with their level" and claiming that they were children for not racing the third stage.[7][13] CPA president Adam Hansen announced that the race's safety issues would be discussed in a future meeting.[13]

General classification
Final general classification (1–10)[14]
Rank Rider Team Time
1  Marta Cavalli (ITA) FDJ–Suez 5h 30' 51"
2  Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (RSA) AG Insurance–Soudal–Quick-Step + 0' 03"
3  Antonia Niedermaier (GER) Canyon–SRAM + 0' 05"
4  Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (DEN) FDJ–Suez + 0' 38"
5  Neve Bradbury (AUS) Canyon–SRAM + 1' 14"
6  Grace Brown (AUS) FDJ–Suez + 1' 38"
7  Clara Koppenburg (GER) Cofidis + 1' 46"
8  Pauliena Rooijakkers (NED) Liv Racing TeqFind + 2' 16"
9  Cédrine Kerbaol (FRA) Ceratizit–WNT Pro Cycling + 2' 27"
10  Lotte Claes (BEL) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime + 2' 32"

Notes
  1. The third stage, which was scheduled for 11 June was abandoned.
  2. Stage 2 was originally scheduled for 96 kilometres (60 mi). The first 25 kilometres (16 mi) of the stage was neutralised.

References
  1. "CIC-Tour Féminin Pyrénées 2023 Race Preview". Pro Cycling UK. 6 June 2023. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  2. "Stage profile CIC-Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées 2023". www.procyclingstats.com. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  3. "Tour Feminin des Pyrenees abandoned because of safety concerns". BBC Sport. 11 June 2023. Archived from the original on 17 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  4. "TOUR FEMININ DES PYRENEES ABANDONED AFTER EXCESSIVE PRESENCE OF CARS PROMPTS MULTIPLE TEAMS TO PULL OUT". Eurosport. 11 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  5. "2ndCIC-Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées (2.1): Stage 1". Pro Cycling Stats. 9 June 2023. Archived from the original on 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  6. "2ndCIC-Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées (2.1): Stage 2". Pro Cycling Stats. 10 June 2023. Archived from the original on 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  7. "'Not the Tour de France': women's race director's safety remarks spark anger". The Guardian. 12 June 2023. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  8. "Tour Féminin des Pyrénées called off over safety issues". Cycling News. 11 June 2023. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  9. "Tour Féminin des Pyrénées stopped amidst rider safety issues". Road.cc. 11 June 2023. Archived from the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  10. "Safety issues bring peloton to halt and create Hautacam hill climb at Tour des Pyrénées". Cycling News. 10 June 2023. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  11. "CIC-Tour Féminin Pyrénées: Cavalli wins protest-filled stage 2 to grab GC lead atop Hautacam". Cycling News. 10 June 2023. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  12. "The UCI has stopped the CIC-Tour Féminin Pyrénées for safety's sake". Cycling Magazine Canada. 11 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  13. "Chaos and emnity as women's Tour Féminin International des Pyrenees cancels final stage on safety grounds". Cycling Weekly. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  14. "2nd CIC-Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées (2.1): Stage 2 GC". Pro Cycling Stats. 10 June 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
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