Saturday 22 July 2017 18:34, UK
Annemiek van Vleuten has won La Course after maintaining her lead in the final pursuit stage in Marseille.
The Dutchwoman triumphed from Britain's Lizzie Deignan, who managed to win the sprint for second place.
Van Vleuten had won the first leg of the women's race earlier this week after launching an attack on the climb to the Col d'Izoard pass in the Alps and soloing to victory.
And, in this revamped event, the riders started in intervals on Saturday according their time gaps on the opening stage.
Van Vleuten therefore started with a lead of 43 seconds over Deignan, who chose to wait for Elisa Longo Borghini and Megan Guarnier, in the hope that together the three of them could chase down Van Vleuten.
But that manoeuvre meant Deignan conceded almost a minute to Van Vleuten and there was no way back against the three-time Dutch national time trial champion.
Van Vleuten was able to ease up before the finish line and soak up the atmosphere in the Stade Velodrome after a 22.5 kilometre race around the city.
Behind the winner, Guarnier was dropped on the climb up the Notre Dame de la Garde, leaving Deignan and Longo Borghini to battle for second, though the Italian put up little resistance as they came into the stadium.
Regarding the new format of the race, Deignan said: "It was hard work. Full gas from the start to the finish.
"We got a lot of exposure for our sponsors, a lot of people talking, which is a good thing.
"But, from an athlete's point of view, it was a weird race and difficult to really take it seriously when we didn't know what to expect."
Deignan enjoyed finishing in the Stade Velodrome though, adding: "It was very special, definitely grateful for the opportunity to race in front of so many people.
"It has been a fun event to be part of, but I think fun is the right word for it at the moment."
