Dutch cyclist Marianne Vos won the first edition of new cycling race La Course in Paris at the weekend, as arch rival Lizzie Armitstead crashed in the final kilometre.

‘It was a dream come true, especially with the huge crowds, and it was an incredible race with a lot of attacks and that makes it even better to finish it off,’ Vos was quoted as saying after crossing the finishing line on Sunday.

The Netherlands’ Kirsten Wild took the silver medal.

World champion Vos is one of a group of women cyclists campaiging for the return of a stage race in France for women. The last women’s Tour de France took place in 2009.

La Course took place before the arrival of the men in the final stage of the Tour de France and followed their route. In total, 119 riders started the 13-lap, 91-kilometre race through the centre of Paris.