is yet to quality and will attempt to do so in Gotzis. Also See: Pave

PARIS -- Finally, the Tour de France is giving women a more visible role than just congratulating the male riders. Air Max 90 Australia . On July 27 cyclings best-known race will host "La Course by Le Tour de France" -- a one-day womens competition staged hours before Tour riders race on the same circuit to finish the three-week event on Paris Champs-Elysees. The International Cycling Union announced the innovation Saturday as part of its 2014 racing calendar. Tour organizers, the Amaury Sport Organization, say they aim to make the womens competition "one of the most decisive races of the season." Until now, the 110-year-old Tour has been almost exclusively a male preserve, with women sometimes employed as team staffers or on the winners podium handing out flowers. A number of womens races have collapsed in recent years and some competitors have criticized poor funding and promotion. A "Tour Feminin" event in France was staged in the past, but not since 2009. "Womens races have had financial difficulties -- little television exposure, little media fallout and, as a result, few sponsors," said UCI sport director Philippe Chevallier in a phone interview. "We are working hard so that will change," he said, acknowledging that "its a long-term job." A group of cyclists, including Olympic gold medallist and road race world champion Marianne Vos of the Netherlands and Olympian Emma Pooley of Britain, launched a petition last summer to push for a professional womens race in parallel to the Tour de France over the same distances. "There was a petition, which I found inappropriate by the way, during the Tour de France," Tour director Christian Prudhomme told The Associated Press by telephone. "After the Tour, in September, October, a delegation of (womens) champions came to see me, led by Marianne Vos," Prudhomme said. "What they asked us was for a bit of spotlight, they insisted upon the fact that womens cycling does not get enough media coverage and only this event -- and only organization ASO -- could help them to get more coverage for their race." Vos said she was "delighted" about the announcement of "La Course" event. "I am particularly happy to take part, especially thinking about the majestic finish on the Champs-Elysees," she was quoted as saying in a statement from Tour organizers. "The birth of this race is a revolutionary development in our sport. The Tour is the pinnacle of professional cycling ... (this) could open up a new era for womens cycling." In contrast, Prudhomme emphasized the challenge of running two races at the same time. "Its complicated. You have to do things step by step from a logistical point of view," and in terms of security, Prudhomme said. "Were totally incapable, logistically and technically, to run two events at the same time, whatever they may be. We dont know how to do it, (so) well have to wait to see what happens." Air Max 720 Saturn Australia .Y. - Phil Varone was the lone scorer in the shootout as the Rochester Americans edged the Toronto Marlies 3-2 on Sunday in American Hockey League action. Air Max 97 Australia Cheap . - Mike Zimmer has brought a demanding style to the Minnesota Vikings. http://www.outletairmaxaustralia.com/ . -- Navy football player Will McKamey, who has been hospitalized since collapsing at practice three days ago, has died while in a coma.Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill is feeling positive ahead of the defence of her title in Rio after returning from an Achilles injury at the weekend. The 30-year-old made her first competitive appearance of the season at the Loughborough International on Sunday.She competed in the javelin but was disappointed at finishing eighth with a throw of 41.68m, which compares with a personal best of 48.33m. Im a little bit disappointed with my throw, Ennis-Hill told Sky Sports News HQ during Sportswomen. Its the first competition of the year, Ive got to build on it and make progress and on to Rio. Ennis-Hill claimed Heptathlon gold at London 2012 Ennis-Hill is making a comeback from an Achilles problem that forced her to rest during the winter season and miss the World Indoor Championships in March.My Achilles actually feels really good. The work Ive done with the medical team, the rehab and just making sure we got it really right has worked, she added.Touch wood Im hopefully getting over this injury. I can start training fully and preparing to compete again.The world heptathlon champion will not compete in the high-profile heptathlon at the Hypo-Meeting in Gotzis this weekend but is fully focused on her preparations for Rio. Chaep Air Max 200. Ennis-Hill won her second world title in Beijing just three months after returning to training following the birth of her son in 2014 Im still kind of a bit behind where I wanted to be. I was hoping to compete in a heptathlon at the weekend, but Im not quite ready, Ennis-Hill said.This was really to come out and see how the javelin is going and just do one event and not push myself too much. To go away and get some more training done and hopefully compete again soon.Ive got a great team around me. Ive got the experience of doing major championships and Olympics before. Its just about taking that believe and doing what I know Im capable of doing.Ennis-Hill has already secured her position for this years summer Olympic Games, but fellow Briton Katarina Johnson-Thompson is yet to quality and will attempt to do so in Gotzis. Also See: Pavey faces Rio battle Olympics home ' ' '