PARIS — Rain-slicked cobblestones proved treacherous at the second edition of La Course by Le Tour de France on Sunday, a one-day women’s race on the iconic Champs-Élysées finishing circuit used by the three-week men’s event.
While the cool temperature have been a relief for many in Paris after a period of hot, dry weather, the rain transformed the accumulated dust and oil on the cobbles into a slick paste.
Three large crashes and several smaller spills took an exceptionally heavy toll on the riders. Nearly half the field, 57 riders, abandoned the race, and one rider, the American Megan Guarner, was disqualified for sitting in a vehicle during part of the race.