2015 La Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta

The 2015 La Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta was held on 13 September 2015, in Madrid, Spain. It coincided with the final day of the 2015 Vuelta a España, and was scheduled a few hours before the conclusion to the men's race.[1] It was the first edition of La Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta. A multi-lap course, the 87 kilometres (54 mi) women's road cycling race was rated as a 1.1 category race. It was won by Shelley Olds (Alé–Cipollini), who beat Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle–Honda) and Kirsten Wild (Team Hitec Products).[2]

2015 La Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta
Route of the race
Route of the race
Race details
Dates13 September 2015
Stages1
Distance87 km (54.06 mi)
Winning time2h 06' 21"
Results
  Winner  Shelley Olds (USA) (Alé–Cipollini)
  Second  Giorgia Bronzini (ITA) (Wiggle–Honda)
  Third  Kirsten Wild (NED) (Team Hitec Products)

Entry

Thirteen of the UCI women's team entered the race, featuring between four and seven riders. They were joined by national teams from Portugal and Spain, bringing the total entry up to 88 riders.[3] A number of the top teams and riders did not take part in the race, as they concentrated on preparing for the 2015 UCI Road World Championships the following week.[4]

UCI Teams

National teams

Course
The race started and finished alongside the Cybele Palace in Plaza de Cibeles.

The women's race was scheduled on the same day as the final stage of the men's Vuelta a España, and the course followed 15 laps of the same 5.8 kilometres (3.6 mi) loop that the men would race on later.[5] For the Madrid Challenge, the women started in the Plaza de Cibeles, and headed north along Paseo de Recoletos, before a tight hairpin turn to return to Plaza de Cibeles. The course then turned west onto Gran Vía, before another hairpin turn brought the race back to Plaza de Cibeles once more, where the course bent south down Paseo del Prado. A final hairpin took the course back to the Plaza de Cibeles to complete the lap.[6] The course is relatively flat, favouring sprinters.[7] On each lap, the first five riders to pass the start/finish line were awarded points in an intermediate sprint.[8]

Preview

In 2014, the Tour de France added a women's race on the final day, known as La Course by Le Tour de France, and the organisers of the Vuelta a España opted to do similar in 2015.[9][10] The plans were initially put on hold due to clashes with the Chrono Champenois-Trophée Européen, Belgium Tour and Giro della Toscana,[11] but despite this, it was given approval as a 1.1 category race.[2]

Results
Result
Rank Rider Team Time
1 Shelley Olds (USA)Alé–Cipollini2h 06' 21"
2  Giorgia Bronzini (ITA) Wiggle–Honda + 0"
3  Kirsten Wild (NED) Team Hitec Products + 0"
4  Roxane Fournier (FRA) Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86 + 0"
5  Lucy Garner (GBR) Team Liv–Plantur + 0"
6  Eugenia Bujak (POL) BTC City Ljubljana + 0"
7  Elena Cecchini (ITA) Lotto–Soudal Ladies + 0"
8  Kelly Druyts (BEL) Topsport Vlaanderen–Pro-Duo + 0"
9  Arianna Fidanza (ITA) Alé–Cipollini + 0"
10  Sheyla Gutiérrez (ESP) Lointek + 0"
Source: ProCyclingStats[2]

References
  1. "In the News: Vuelta gets green light for women's race". VeloNews. VeloNews.com. 12 February 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  2. "2015 La Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta: Result". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  3. "La Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta 2015: Startlist". CyclingFever. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  4. Mulder, Wietze Willem (13 September 2015). "Shelley Olds wint La Vuelta". Wieler Revue (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 6 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  5. Hamilton, Alastair (13 September 2015). "Vuelta'15 St. 21: Eventually Degenkolb Wins In Madrid!". Pez Cycling News. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  6. "Deporte". Vuelta a España (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  7. "Anna Sanchis: "It's special for me to show this jersey" in La Madrid Challenge". Wiggle Honda. Archived from the original on 12 October 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  8. "Itinerario horario" (in Spanish). Vuelta a España. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  9. Fotheringham, Alasdair (25 July 2015). "Women's La Course 2015: Women on La Course to move up a gear". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  10. Powlison, Spencer (21 October 2014). "Vuelta a Espana to hold one-day women's race". VeloNews. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  11. "Scheduling conflict could torpedo Vuelta's women's 'La Course'". VeloNews. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
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