This year, for the first time in the race’s seven-year history, La Course was held before the men’s Tour de France rather than during or after it. It meant that while the men’s peloton dealt with treacherous conditions on stage 1, the women’s peloton had far more favourable conditions as it weaved its way around Nice.

The race was decided from an elite group of six riders, three of whom have won at least one world title on the road. Kristof Ramon and Cor Vos were on the scene to capture all the action.