Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling is delighted to announce that Kathryn Bertine, the co-founder of Le Tour Entier – which was instrumental in persuading race organiser ASO to host the women’s La Course by Le Tour de France – will ride the prestigious event in the team’s black and orange jersey on the 27th of July. La Course will take place on the streets of Paris, and finish on the grand Avenue des Champs-Élysées, in the afternoon before the arrival of the Tour’s final stage.
Bertine founded Le Tour Entier along with World Champion Marianne Vos, 2008 Olympic Silver medalist Emma Pooley and Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington. Their online petition, urging ASO to organise a women’s Tour alongside the men’s, attracted 97,000 signatures.
As part of her campaign to secure more recognition and support for women’s racing, Bertine has directed the documentary film “Half the Road,” which is currently showing in North America, Australia and the United Kingdom.
“Kathryn was instrumental in creating the La Course race and it simply wouldn’t be right for her not to race in this potentially historic event,” said Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling owner and manager Rochelle Gilmore. “La Course is one of 2014’s most important races in shifting the sport to where it deserves to be and we’re delighted to make her dream of racing it come true.”
Bertine is the reigning Caribbean champion and three time St Kitts and Nevis national champion, and has represented her country at numerous World Championships. She joins Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling’s British road champion Laura Trott, Japanese road and time trial champion Mayuko Hagiwara, Australian XCE mountainbike champion Peta Mullens and New Zealand criterium champion Emily Collins.
“I am over the moon to be given this incredible opportunity by Rochelle, it is the highlight of my cycling career,” said Bertine. “While ASO might not be able to create a 3-week event in year one, we see La Course as a vital stepping stone in changing both the public’s perceptions of, and the outdated regulations governing, women’s professional cycling.”
