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23-27 JULY 2014
Special thanks to: Annemijn BriĂŤt, Carola Groeneveld, Marieke Hendriks, Marit Huisman and Marianne Vos
UTRECHT - O KM
BAARLE-NASSAU - 125 KM
NAZARETH - 269 KM
PERONNE - 427 KM
PARIJS - 577 KM
Marianne Vos and the launch of La Course inspires global women’s ride from Utrecht to Paris Olympic and World Champion Marianne Vos has been the catalyst behind a major Roadtrip to Paris involving 40 women from 13 countries. The all-women peloton set off from Utrecht in the Netherlands on July 23rd and covered more than 550km in four days to arrive in the French capital on July 26th. On Sunday 27th July they all took on the role of spectators, watching the launch of the professional women’s race La Course by le Tour de France, as well as the last stage of the Tour de France. They also had a meet and greet with La Course contender (and winner!) Marianne Vos who, with a group of friends, had instigated the Roadtrip to Paris initiative. As the organisation progressed, the World Champion kept in touch with the participants, giving them training and nutritional advice for their preparation. Roadtrip to Paris has been the biggest international roadtrip of this kind for women cyclists and a testament to the growing momentum of women’s cycling. HOW IT ALL STARTED “The idea started in Spain, during Roadtrip Barcarola when we sat down with the girls and talked about La Course. Everybody was enthusiastic about La Course, wanted to cheer me on and thought it would be good to do this on the bike. In the Netherlands I discussed the idea with some friends and we decided to organise this Roadtrip. It was obvious that we would start this Roadtrip from Utrecht as it is the host city of the 2015 Grand Départ of the Tour de France. After one tweet and one post on Facebook, word spread and mailboxes exploded with women emailing and wanting to join the adventure. After the success of Roadtrip Barcarola, this Roadtrip was again overwhelming, confirming that women’s cycling is alive. It was great to meet the girls in Paris and hear all about their adventures. Of course after so much interest we will be aiming to organise another trip next year.” – Marianne Vos 40 GIRLS, 13 NATIONALITIES, 550KM Initially designed for a small group of 25 riders the trip grew due to the phenomenal level of demand and interest. With 40 women signed up, it was truly a multicultural and diverse group with riders coming from Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, Poland, England, Ireland, America, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Taiwan, Korea and the Netherlands. Ages ranged from 24 to 50. In 4 days the women rode over 550km and shared some great adventures and experiences.
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DAY 1
40 girls
Hoi HiOlà 13 nationalities Brazil
Bonjour Lí hó Guten Tag
Canada
New Zealand Poland
England Ireland
United States Switzerland
Annyong haseyo
Czesc ´´
France
Belgium Taiwan Korea
the Netherlands 1 goal #RoadtripParis
Some last advice: sign, shout, point, left, right, pole, paaltje, hole, bump, thing ...
... and off we
go!
UTRECHT - O KM
BAARLE-NASSAU - 125 KM
July 23th, the start of the Roadtrip. 40 girls, 40 bikes and 40 different stories. Starting from Cafe Lebowski we had a surprise visit from Marianne. After a moment of silence we started the trip towards Paris. 125 km, 4 flat tyres, and some more adventures later we finished the first day in Baarle Nassau. After a short swim we had dinner and afterwards an evening program of getting to know each other a bit better, including everyone’s most embarrassing stories. We heard about cows, cheese girls, snoring, ballet dancing, bunny hopping, and much more!
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DAY 2
Richie!
Turnaround,
Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit lonely And you’re never coming round Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit tired Of listening to the sound of my tears Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit nervous That the best of all the years have gone by Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit terrified And then I see the look in your eyes Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and then I fall apart Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and then I fall apart Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit restless And I dream of something wild Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit helpless And I’m lying like a child in your arms Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit angry And I know I’ve got to get out and cry Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit terrified But then I see the look in your eyes Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and then I fall apart Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and then I fall apart And I need you now tonight And I need you more than ever And if you’ll only hold me tight We’ll be holding on forever And we’ll only be making it right Cause we’ll never be wrong together We can take it to the end of the line Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time I don’t know what to do and I’m always in the dark We’re living in a powder keg and giving off sparks I really need you tonight Forever’s gonna start tonight Forever’s gonna start tonight Once upon a time I was falling in love But now I’m only falling apart There’s nothing I can do A total eclipse of the heart Once upon a time there was light in my life But now there’s only love in the dark Nothing I can say A total eclipse of the heart
Every now and then I get a little bit lonely And you’re never coming round Turnaround bright eyes Turnaround bright eyes Turnaround, Every now and then I know you’ll never be the boy You always wanted to be Turnaround, But every now and then I know you’ll always be the only boy Who wanted me the way that I am Turnaround, Every now and then I know there’s no one in the universe As magical and wondrous as you Turnaround, Every now and then I know there’s nothing any better And there’s nothing that I just wouldn’t do Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and then I fall apart Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and then I fall apart
Turnaround And I need you now tonight And I need you more than ever And if you’ll only hold me tight Well be holding on forever And we’ll only be making it right Cause we’ll never be wrong together We can take it to the end of the line Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time I don’t know what to do and I’m always in the dark We’re living in a powder keg and giving off sparks I really need you tonight Forever’s gonna start tonight Forever’s gonna start tonight Once upon a time I was falling in love But now I’m only falling apart Nothing I can do A total eclipse of the heart Once upon a time there was light in my life But now there’s only love in the dark Nothing I can say A total eclipse of the heart
BAARLE-NASSAU - 125 KM
NAZARETH - 269 KM
We’re in Belgium! Which means we’re getting closer to our ultimate goal... Paris and La Course. Again, a wonderful sunny day - setting off at 10am for 144km to Nazareth (near Gent). Well, that was the theory! We left in 3 different groups and all of them took wrong turns more than once, so we all rode at least 150km. But spirits are extremely high and we’ve turned quite a few heads of people not used to seeing such big pelotons of women! Setting the trend! Can’t wait for tomorrow... 158km to Peronne. FRANCE. We’re on our way Marianne!!
Never trust a man
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DAY 3
We can it!
There are some good thingies in this world
NAZARETH 269 KM
PERONNE 427 KM
Again a stage of 150 kilometers. From Nazareth to Péronne this time. There is some climbing today; there are hills on this route! Again we cycle in 3 different groups, ‘super-fast‘, ‘fast‘ and ‘mediumfast‘. Obviously we all are fast! Where one group signs up for a relaxing ride with lots of coffee and ice cream on the way, the fastest group has only one thing in mind: let’s race! They completed the 150 kilometers with an average of almost 32 km/h and pulling sprints at city name plates. Who says that women cannot cycle?
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DAY 4
Single file, single file, single all the way!
Can we stop for ice cream now?
survive,
I will
First I was afraid I was petrified Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side But I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong I grew strong I learned how to carry on and so you’re back from outer space I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face I should have changed my stupid lock I should have made you leave your key If I had known for just one second you’d be back to bother me Go on now go walk out the door just turn around now ‘cause you’re not welcome anymore weren’t you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye you think I’d crumble you think I’d lay down and die Oh no, not I I will survive as long as i know how to love I know I will stay alive I’ve got all my life to live I’ve got all my love to give and I’ll survive I will survive
as long as I know how to love I know I will stay alive I’ve got all my life to live I’ve got all my love to give and I’ll survive
I will survive
Oh Champs ElysĂŠe ...
You ARE the DUDE
PERONNE 427 KM
PARIJS - 577 KM
Paris here we are! Looking back on their experience, the participants highlighted the solidarity, team spirit and positive attitude of their fellow riders. Some were already experienced athletes while others were embarking on the biggest challenge of their life. But all of them arrived in Paris enriched and inspired! Hundreds of women wanted to join the adventure but only 40 were lucky enough to get places. Their motivation is even higher now that they are in Paris and ready to cheer on Marianne at La Course tomorrow.
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DAY 5
... au revoir
Colophon Design Marjan Peters, www.8-13.nl Photography Jaccolien Stein-Wallaard, www.wall-artphotography.com Natasja Koops-Dubbeld, www.koopsfoto.nl Anton Vos Thanks to all the girls who made this trip so amazing Andrea, Anky, Annemijn, Carola, Charmine, Clare, Conny, Daphne, Ellen, Emma, Heather, Heleen, Helena, Inge, Insuk, Isabella, Jane, Jaccolien, Jennifer, Judith, Liesbeth, Lillie, Linda, Maan, Marieke, Marion, Marit, Marjan, Naomi, Natalie, Natasja, Nelly, Nynke, Sara, Stephanie, Sylvia, Thabita, Twink, Valerie, Veronika, Yvonne