The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team contested the first-ever La Course in Paris, France today, coinciding with the final stage of the 2014 Tour de France. With sprint points available on each lap and final victory on the legendary Champs-Élysées on the line, the 89-kilometer circuit race was extremely fast and aggressive from the start. Countless attacks and counterattacks from the world’s best teams animated all 13 laps around the Arc de Triomphe, across the Champs-Élysées to the Jardins des Tuileries and back across the Champs-Élysées. With so much at stake, the peloton fought fiercely to control the endless attacks, bringing the race back together in the last lap. A crash within the final kilometers added confusion to the already chaotic final lap, but UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team sprinters Hannah Barnes and Coryn Rivera were able to avoid the wreck, with Rivera diving into the final corners in position for the sprint. Safely through the last turn, Rivera unleashed her powerful sprint, earning 6th place in the finale. With this outstanding result, the 21-year-old Rivera also secured a position on the podium, claiming the title of best young rider for the race.
Coryn Rivera commented, “It was a special day to be in Paris with the team. The team put me in great position and coming out of the final corner, I gave it everything I had with the Arc de Triomphe in the horizon. I’m really happy to be on the podium as the best young rider. Thanks to my UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team and sponsors for the support and hopefully this is the start of bigger things in the future!” Sports director Rachel Heal reflected on the importance of the event, “It’s the dream of every cyclist to race on the Champs-Élysées. Today was a huge step for women’s cycling and the team is honored to have been selected for the race. I’m really proud of how the team raced today; they were always in the action and it’s fantastic to come away with a podium for the best young rider.”
Photo by ASO/P.Ballet
