La Course 2018 - Van Vleuten defends title in dramatic style
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- A mountainous 112.5km course from Annecy to Le Grand-Bornand
- Annemiek van Vleuten defends her title, overtaking Anna van der Breggen on the line
- 112 riders from 20 teams
- Route uses parts of the men's Tour de France stage 10
Live Reporting
By Jack Skelton
All times stated are UK
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Adieu
Phew. What a race and what a win by Annemiek van Vleuten.
The report of her dramatic defence of her title is building here.
We're in for an amazing day of racing if the Tour de France can even half live up to that.
Stage 10 is just about to get under way and I'll be back with live text coverage soon.
For now, adieu!
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Mitchelton Scott's Amanda Spratt, speaking to ITV4: "I know Annemiek really wanted this win today - we were all tired after the Giro Rosa but we just had to ride with our hearts.
"We knew Anna van der Breggen was fresh but our legs were still good.
"I like that today was a proper mountain stage and I'm grateful for that, but we want to be pushing for more days and a full Tour would be great."
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Denmark's Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, speaking to ITV4: "The people watching us, calling my name, cheering us on, it was crazy. It was one of the best days of my life."
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La Course 2018 winner Annemiek van Vleuen: "Last year was super nice but that was unbelievable.
"With 200m to go I thought I was going to come second but then I saw her dying.
"I knew I was in good shape but she's a really good cyclist. It was tough but so beautiful to win this way.
"The gap was small [over the last climb] but I know she's a good descender. I always kept on dreaming and believing in myself - I could've given up with 500m to go but I always believed it was possible.
"This win is really beautiful, together with last year, winning the Giro Rosa on Sunday and then this, it's really high on my list."
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Annemiek van Vleuten has had a simply stunning run of form since that horror crash in which she sustained three spinal fractures during the Rio Olympic road race.
She won La Course last year, become the world time trial champion and then won the most prestigious women's stage race, the Giro Rosa, on Sunday.
And now she's just done that.
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Meanwhile, Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, second in the Giro Rosa, held on to take third today.
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That is quite simply one of the most ridiculous finishes to a bike race I have ever seen.
Anna van der Breggen looked nailed on for victory in the final 500m. In fact, she looked nailed on into the final 100m.
But that last slope was too much, giving Annemiek van Vleuten the chance to reel her in and take a stunning victory.
The Giro Rosa champion just refused to be beaten.
BreakingAnnemiek van Vleuten wins La Course 2018
Annemiek van Vleuten defends her La Course title in quite stupendous fashion.
The final rise to the line proved calamitous for Anna van der Breggen, who just couldn't find another kick to hold off her fellow Dutchwoman.
Van Vleuten found it though - digging deep to blast past in the final 25m. What a ride.
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Van der Breggen can't hold on, Van Vleuten is coming up to her back wheel.
This is incredible.
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Oh my word! Annemiek van Vleuten is kicking back over the final rise.
Anna van der Breggen is fading!
500m to go
Van der Breggen should have this, Van Vleuten is hurting behind.
1km to go
Van der Breggen swings into the final km, just four seconds ahead of Van Vleuten.
This should be too much for the defending champion but she digs again.
1.5km to go
Van Vleuten throws herself round the corner on an aggressive line and gets out of the saddle over a brief rise.
Van der Breggen kicks again. Still favourite for victory but not much gap now.
2km to go
Annemiek van Vleuten has 50m or so to make up, but Anna van der Breggen has just 2km left to bury herself.
3km to go
Anna van der Breggen zips towards Le Grand-Bornand, her advantage down to seven seconds over Annemiek van Vleuten.
Both safely get round a sharp right-hand bend and onto the flat.
The road rises slightly to the finish. This should be a cracking finish.
4km to go
Van Vleuten is in full time trial mode, cutting the gap down to eight seconds.
The road will flatten out soon - who will that benefit?
5km to go
The gap is holding at 10 seconds now. This isn't over but Van Vleuten needs to put in a supreme effort to catch Van der Breggen.
Moolman Pasio is 43 seconds down and out of it now.
7km to go
Van der Breggen has a lead of 12 seconds over Van Vleuten.
That should be a decisive gap. Can the defending champion keep the pressure on and perhaps capitalise on any error by the leader?
8km to go
Anna van der Breggen allows herself a glance behind to see what distance she has on Annemiek van Vleuten.
She's descended like a demon and looks to have eked out a couple more seconds on the defending champion.
Still 3km left of descending before the road flattens out.