# 2015 La Route de France

The 2015 La Route de France is an elite women's cycling stage race that took place in France between 9 and 15 August. It was the ninth edition of La Route de France. The race was won by Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle–Honda), who won two stages including the queen stage to La Planche des Belles Filles. She finished 1' 18" ahead of Amber Neben (BePink–La Classica), with Claudia Lichtenberg a further eight seconds back in third. The best young rider was Jenelle Crooks (Australia). The mountains classification was won by Tetyana Ryabchenko (Inpa Sottoli Giusfredi).

## Teams

16 teams were invited to take part in the race.
UCI Women's Teams
* Team Liv–Plantur
* Topsport Vlaanderen–Pro-Duo
* Lointek
* Team Hitec Products
* Optum–KBS
* Lotto–Soudal Ladies
* Inpa Sottoli Giusfredi
* Wiggle–Honda
* Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86
* BTC City Ljubljana
* BePink–La Classica
* Astana–Acca Due O
* Bizkaia–Durango
National teams
* Australia
* France
* Russia

## Stages
### Prologue

9 August 2015 – Enghien-les-Bains to Enghien-les-Bains, 3 km (2 mi) (ITT) The opening prologue was a 3 km loop of left hand bends ideally suited to track cycling specialists. Amy Pieters of Team Liv–Plantur won the opening stage with an average speed of 49.315 km/h.
Result of prologue :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Amy Pieters (NED) | Team Liv–Plantur | 3' 39" |
| 2 | Eugenia Bujak (POL) | BTC City Ljubljana | +2" |
| 3 | Brianna Walle (USA) | Optum–KBS | +3" |
| 4 | Jaime Nielsen (NZL) | BePink–La Classica | +3" |
| 5 | Annette Edmondson (AUS) | Wiggle–Honda | +3" |
| 6 | Leah Kirchmann (CAN) | Optum–KBS | +5" |
| 7 | Lauren Kitchen (AUS) | Team Hitec Products | +5" |
| 8 | Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) | Wiggle–Honda | +6" |
| 9 | Aude Biannic (FRA) | Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86 | +6" |
| 10 | Martina Ritter (AUT) | BTC City Ljubljana | +7" |
| Source: ProCyclingStats ||||
General classification after prologue :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Amy Pieters (NED) | Team Liv–Plantur | 3' 39" |
| 2 | Eugenia Bujak (POL) | BTC City Ljubljana | +2" |
| 3 | Brianna Walle (USA) | Optum–KBS | +3" |
| 4 | Jaime Nielsen (NZL) | BePink–La Classica | +3" |
| 5 | Annette Edmondson (AUS) | Wiggle–Honda | +3" |
| 6 | Leah Kirchmann (CAN) | Optum–KBS | +5" |
| 7 | Lauren Kitchen (AUS) | Team Hitec Products | +5" |
| 8 | Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) | Wiggle–Honda | +6" |
| 9 | Aude Biannic (FRA) | Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86 | +6" |
| 10 | Martina Ritter (AUT) | BTC City Ljubljana | +7" |
| Source: ProCyclingStats ||||

### Stage 1

10 August 2015 – Avon to Briare, 127.1 km (79.0 mi) The first stage had a delayed start with local organisers in dispute with police around road closures. It was won by Lucy Garner of Team Liv–Plantur.
Result of stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Lucy Garner (GBR) | Team Liv–Plantur | 2hr 47' 49" |
| 2 | Annette Edmondson (AUS) | Wiggle–Honda | +0" |
| 3 | Roxane Fournier (FRA) | Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86 | +0" |
| 4 | Anna Trevisi (ITA) | Inpa Sottoli Giusfredi | +0" |
| 5 | Aurore Verhoeven (FRA) | Lointek | +0" |
| 6 | Giorgia Bronzini (ITA) | Wiggle–Honda | +0" |
| 7 | Lauren Kitchen (AUS) | Team Hitec Products | +0" |
| 8 | Leah Kirchmann (CAN) | Optum–KBS | +0" |
| 9 | Amy Pieters (NED) | Team Liv–Plantur | +0" |
| 10 | Kimberley Wells (AUS) | Australia | +0" |
| Source: ProCyclingStats ||||
General classification after stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Amy Pieters (NED) | Team Liv–Plantur | 2hr 51' 28" |
| 2 | Eugenia Bujak (POL) | BTC City Ljubljana | +3" |
| 3 | Brianna Walle (USA) | Optum–KBS | +4" |
| 4 | Jaime Nielsen (NZL) | BePink–La Classica | +4" |
| 5 | Annette Edmondson (AUS) | Wiggle–Honda | +4" |
| 6 | Leah Kirchmann (CAN) | Optum–KBS | +5" |
| 7 | Lauren Kitchen (AUS) | Team Hitec Products | +6" |
| 8 | Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) | Wiggle–Honda | +6" |
| 9 | Aude Biannic (FRA) | Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86 | +7" |
| 10 | Martina Ritter (AUT) | BTC City Ljubljana | +7" |
| Source: ProCyclingStats ||||

### Stage 2

11 August 2015 – Villemandeur to Bourges, 118 km (73 mi) This was another flat stage suited to road sprinters. Two time world champion Giorgia Bronzini of Team Wiggle–Honda won from race leader Amy Pieters (Liv-Plantur) and a fast finishing Kimberley Wells (Australia).
Result of stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Giorgia Bronzini (ITA) | Wiggle–Honda | 2hr 59' 13" |
| 2 | Amy Pieters (NED) | Team Liv–Plantur | +0" |
| 3 | Kimberley Wells (AUS) | Australia | +0" |
| 4 | Annette Edmondson (AUS) | Wiggle–Honda | +0" |
| 5 | Lauren Kitchen (AUS) | Team Hitec Products | +0" |
| 6 | Aurore Verhoeven (FRA) | Lointek | +0" |
| 7 | Roxane Fournier (FRA) | Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86 | +0" |
| 8 | Anna Trevisi (ITA) | Inpa Sottoli Giusfredi | +0" |
| 9 | Oxana Kozonchuk (RUS) | Russia | +0" |
| 10 | Claudia Lichtenberg (GER) | Team Liv–Plantur | +0" |
| Source: ProCyclingStats ||||
General classification after stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Amy Pieters (NED) | Team Liv–Plantur | 5hr 50' 41" |
| 2 | Eugenia Bujak (POL) | BTC City Ljubljana | +3" |
| 3 | Brianna Walle (USA) | Optum–KBS | +4" |
| 4 | Jaime Nielsen (NZL) | BePink–La Classica | +4" |
| 5 | Annette Edmondson (AUS) | Wiggle–Honda | +4" |
| 6 | Leah Kirchmann (CAN) | Optum–KBS | +5" |
| 7 | Lauren Kitchen (AUS) | Team Hitec Products | +6" |
| 8 | Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) | Wiggle–Honda | +6" |
| 9 | Aude Biannic (FRA) | Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86 | +7" |
| 10 | Martina Ritter (AUT) | BTC City Ljubljana | +7" |
| Source: ProCyclingStats ||||

### Stage 3

12 August 2015 – Nevers to Avallon, 113.3 km (70.4 mi) Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Wiggle–Honda was victorious on a mountainous stage 3 gaining 13 seconds from her nearest rival Eugenia Bujak.
Result of stage 3 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) | Wiggle–Honda | 3hr 06' 17" |
| 2 | Eugenia Bujak (POL) | BTC City Ljubljana | +13" |
| 3 | Brianna Walle (USA) | Optum–KBS | +13" |
| 4 | Mayuko Hagiwara (JPN) | Wiggle–Honda | +13" |
| 5 | Amy Pieters (NED) | Team Liv–Plantur | +13" |
| 6 | Lauren Kitchen (AUS) | Team Hitec Products | +13" |
| 7 | Amber Neben (USA) | BePink–La Classica | +13" |
| 8 | Ane Santesteban (ESP) | Inpa Sottoli Giusfredi | +13" |
| 9 | Jessie Daams (BEL) | LBL | +13" |
| 10 | Polona Batagelj (SLO) | BTC City Ljubljana | +13" |
| Source: ProCyclingStats ||||
General classification after stage 3 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) | Wiggle–Honda | 8hr 57' 09" |
| 2 | Amy Pieters (NED) | Team Liv–Plantur | +2" |
| 3 | Eugenia Bujak (POL) | BTC City Ljubljana | +5" |
| 4 | Lauren Kitchen (AUS) | Team Hitec Products | +8" |
| 5 | Brianna Walle (USA) | Optum–KBS | +11" |
| 6 | Claudia Lichtenberg (GER) | Team Liv–Plantur | +13" |
| 7 | Carlee Taylor (AUS) | Lotto–Soudal Ladies | +19" |
| 8 | Jessie Daams (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal Ladies | +19" |
| 9 | Polona Batagelj (SLO) | BTC City Ljubljana | +20" |
| 10 | Amber Neben (USA) | BePink–La Classica | +23" |
| Source: ProCyclingStats ||||

### Stage 4

13 August 2015 – Autun to Louhans, 103 km (64 mi) Long-limbed Australian all-rounder Loren Rowney won stage 4 ahead of fellow Australian Annette Edmondson in a sprint finish.
Result of stage 4 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Loren Rowney (AUS) | Australia | 2hr 32' 31" |
| 2 | Annette Edmondson (AUS) | Wiggle–Honda | +0" |
| 3 | Roxane Fournier (FRA) | Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86 | +1" |
| 4 | Leah Kirchmann (CAN) | Optum–KBS | +1" |
| 5 | Fiona Dutriaux (FRA) | France | +3" |
| 6 | Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) | Wiggle–Honda | +3" |
| 7 | Aurore Verhoeven (FRA) | Lointek | +3" |
| 8 | Anna Trevisi (ITA) | Inpa Sottoli Giusfredi | +3" |
| 9 | Daiva Tušlaitė (LIT) | Inpa Sottoli Giusfredi | +3" |
| 10 | Jessy Druyts (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen–Pro-Duo | +5" |
| Source: ProCyclingStats ||||
General classification after stage 4 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) | Wiggle–Honda | 11hr 29' 43" |
| 2 | Amy Pieters (NED) | Team Liv–Plantur | +4" |
| 3 | Eugenia Bujak (POL) | BTC City Ljubljana | +7" |
| 4 | Lauren Kitchen (AUS) | Team Hitec Products | +10" |
| 5 | Brianna Walle (USA) | Optum–KBS | +13" |
| 6 | Claudia Lichtenberg (GER) | Team Liv–Plantur | +15" |
| 7 | Carlee Taylor (AUS) | Lotto–Soudal Ladies | +21" |
| 8 | Jessie Daams (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal Ladies | +21" |
| 9 | Polona Batagelj (SLO) | BTC City Ljubljana | +22" |
| 10 | Amber Neben (USA) | BePink–La Classica | +25" |
| Source: ProCyclingStats ||||

### Stage 5

14 August 2015 – Vesoul to La Planche des Belles Filles, 87.4 km (54.3 mi) Elisa Longo Borghini Wiggle–Honda won again on a mountain-top finish, gaining an additional 45 seconds on second-placed veteran Amber Neben.
Result of stage 5 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) | Wiggle–Honda | 2hr 42' 12" |
| 2 | Amber Neben (USA) | BePink–La Classica | +45" |
| 3 | Claudia Lichtenberg (GER) | Team Liv–Plantur | +1' 03" |
| 4 | Tetyana Ryabchenko (UKR) | Inpa Sottoli Giusfredi | +1' 36" |
| 5 | Carlee Taylor (AUS) | Lotto–Soudal Ladies | +1' 57" |
| 6 | Fanny Leleu (FRA) | France | +2' 01" |
| 7 | Marina Likhanova (RUS) | Servetto Footon | +2' 07" |
| 8 | Polona Batagelj (SLO) | BTC City Ljubljana | +2' 09" |
| 9 | Jenelle Crooks (AUS) | Australia | +2' 29" |
| 10 | Eugenia Bujak (POL) | BTC City Ljubljana | +3' 16" |
| Source: ProCyclingStats ||||
General classification after stage 5 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) | Wiggle–Honda | 14hr 11' 55" |
| 2 | Amber Neben (USA) | BePink–La Classica | +1' 10" |
| 3 | Claudia Lichtenberg (GER) | Team Liv–Plantur | +1' 18" |
| 4 | Carlee Taylor (AUS) | Lotto–Soudal Ladies | +2' 18" |
| 5 | Tetyana Ryabchenko (UKR) | Inpa Sottoli Giusfredi | +2' 21" |
| 6 | Polona Batagelj (SLO) | BTC City Ljubljana | +2' 31" |
| 7 | Jenelle Crooks (AUS) | Australia | +2' 56" |
| 8 | Eugenia Bujak (POL) | BTC City Ljubljana | +3' 23" |
| 9 | Brianna Walle (USA) | Optum–KBS | +3' 38" |
| 10 | Jessie Daams (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal Ladies | +4' 11" |
| Source: ProCyclingStats ||||

### Stage 6

15 August 2015 – Soultzmatt to Guebwiller, 116.4 km (72.3 mi) Giorgia Bronzini from Wiggle–Honda sprinted to another victory ahead of consistent Loren Rowney, and Amy Pieters.
Result of stage 6 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Giorgia Bronzini (ITA) | Wiggle–Honda | 3hr 04' 52" |
| 2 | Loren Rowney (AUS) | Velocio–SRAM | +0" |
| 3 | Amy Pieters (NED) | Team Liv–Plantur | +0" |
| 4 | Leah Kirchmann (CAN) | Optum–KBS | +0" |
| 5 | Kaat Hannes (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen–Pro-Duo | +0" |
| 6 | Lauren Kitchen (AUS) | Team Hitec Products | +0" |
| 7 | Aurore Verhoeven (FRA) | Lointek | +0" |
| 8 | Eugenia Bujak (POL) | BTC City Ljubljana | +0" |
| 9 | Roxane Fournier (FRA) | Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86 | +0" |
| 10 | Cecilie Gotaas Johnsen (NOR) | Team Hitec Products | +0" |
| Source: ProCyclingStats ||||
Final general classification :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) | Wiggle–Honda | 17hr 16' 47" |
| 2 | Amber Neben (USA) | BePink–La Classica | +1' 10" |
| 3 | Claudia Lichtenberg (GER) | Team Liv–Plantur | +1' 18" |
| 4 | Carlee Taylor (AUS) | Lotto–Soudal Ladies | +2' 18" |
| 5 | Tetyana Ryabchenko (UKR) | Inpa Sottoli Giusfredi | +2' 21" |
| 6 | Polona Batagelj (SLO) | BTC City Ljubljana | +2' 31" |
| 7 | Jenelle Crooks (AUS) | Australia | +2' 56" |
| 8 | Eugenia Bujak (POL) | BTC City Ljubljana | +3' 23" |
| 9 | Brianna Walle (USA) | Optum–KBS | +3' 38" |
| 10 | Jessie Daams (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal Ladies | +4' 11" |
| Source: ProCyclingStats ||||