Grande Boucle Update
Dateline: 20-Jun-08
Well the start list was not as strong as the organisers hoped - and British interest is limited to the Swift Racing team in the absence of the Halford Bikehut / British National squad (I missed out on why). So defending champion Nicole Cooke was drafted into the Swift Racing line-up to join Helen Wyman as their GB representatives.
A total of 67 riders completed Stage 1 where 1999 winner Diana Ziliute started as she meant to continue with a bunch sprint victory. Stage 2 was another bunch sprint but this time won by Loes Markerink ahead of Cooke and Ziliute. And Stage 3 was the same three on the podium but it was Ziliute first across the line this time. By Stage 4 you could almost have guessed the result - a bunch sprint won by Ziliute ahead of Markerink - except this time Cooke did not seem to contest the sprint and came in near the back. At least today it’s a time trial followed by two days in the Alpes - so Ziliute will need to time trial and climb well to keep winning stages. With only 45 seconds covering the top 12 on GC the race is still wide open.

2008 La Grande Boucle Féminine
Dateline: 11-Mar-08
This year is the 16th edition of the race and it goes from Ghent in Belgium to Sestriere in Italy.

A field of 102 is planned with entries closing later this month. The stages details announced so far are -

17.06.08 Gent (Vrijdagmarkt) to Lambersart via Oudenaarde, Hotondberg and Kluisbergen (100 km)
18.06.08 Wallers to La Louviere via the Arenberg Forest pavé (89 km)
18.06.08 La Louviere to Fourmies (93 km)
19.06.08 Montdidier to Drancy (111 km)
20.06.08 Orgelet to Clairvaux-les-Lacs (ITT 38 km)
21.06.08 Lac d’Aiguebelette to Villard-de-Lans via Col de Port (112 km)
22.06.08 Guillestre to Sestriere via Col de l’Izoard, Briancon and Col de Montgenevre (83 km)

So six days of challenging racing from the northern cobbles to the high Alpes. Not quite the TdF but this means less hassle and fewer crowds to get through.