France Prepares Strong Women’s Road Cycling Team for Paris 2024 Olympics
Juliette Labous, Audrey Cordon-Ragot, and Victoire Berteau are set to represent France in the women's road cycling events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Coach Paul Brousse revealed the selection on Tuesday. Labous and Cordon-Ragot will race in the time trial on July 27 and the road race on August 4, where Berteau will also compete.
The selection of Labous, 25, and Cordon-Ragot, 34, were predictable, given their leadership roles in the French team and familiarity with the flat 32.4 kilometer time trial route starting from the Esplanade des Invalids. The contest for the third spot was fierce, with competitors like Cédrine Kerbaol, Evita Muzic, and Clara Copponi all aiming for the position.
Ultimately, it was Victoire Berteau, 23, who secured the third spot. She is the reigning French road champion and a strong contender in Flandrian-type races, featuring narrow roads, cobbles, and small punchy climbs similar to the final stretch in Paris.
Coach Paul Brousse expressed confidence in the team's abilities and emphasized the tactical advantage of having a seasoned road captain like Audrey Cordon-Ragot. The course for the road race will pass through the Chevreuse Valley and culminate in a circuit in Paris, including the Montmartre hill.
Brousse noted the atypical nature of this year’s event, which will feature a peloton of 90 riders, with a maximum of four per nation, and no earpieces allowed. He acknowledged that France is not the favorite but stressed the importance of being smart and opportunistic.
- Beyond the sporting events, there are significant security concerns surrounding the Paris 2024 Olympics. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau has predicted an increase in crime during the Games, mainly due to the influx of tourists. Expected offenses include pickpocketing, acts of violence, and possibly sexual assault.
- The prosecutor's office has national jurisdiction over cybercrime and anticipates a rise in cyberattacks, aligning with the experiences of previous Olympics. To address these issues, the Paris prosecutor’s office will reinforce its staff ahead of the Games, with additional magistrates being mobilized.
- Immediate appearance hearings, which typically occur on certain days in July, will be held daily during the Olympics. This adjustment is part of the broader effort to maintain security and uphold the law during what is intended to be a celebratory event.
