PARIS -- Finally, the Tour de France is giving women a more visible role than just congratulating the male riders. Wayne Gretzky Jersey . 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." Jason Demers Jersey . -- Blake Griffin scored 32 points and grabbed eight rebounds, DeAndre Jordan had 14 points and 22 rebounds and the Los Angeles Clippers outlasted the Golden State Warriors 98-96 on Thursday night to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round series. Alex Goligoski Jersey . HEROES P.K. Subban – Scored the overtime winner and assisted on Montreal’s earlier goal, both on the power play, in a 2-1 win over Nashville. http://www.coyotesauthority.com/authentic-brendan-perlini-coyotes-jersey/ . Portuguese sides Benfica and Porto also advanced to the last eight while Basel overcame an early red card to win 2-1 at Salzburg and progress from a last-16 second leg that was briefly suspended because of crowd trouble. Lyon, Valencia and AZ Alkmaar will also be in Fridays draw in Nyon, Switzerland, where the team to avoid will be Juventus -- even though the Italian champions made heavy work of their all-Italian last-16 match against Fiorentina.TORONTO - Manager Greg Vanney says injured striker Jermain Defoe is anxious to get back to Toronto FC this season.Vanney talked to Defoe by phone this week. The 31-year-old star is expected back Monday from England where he has been nursing a groin injury.The discussion was about him being back on Monday and well sit down and chat a little bit more (then), Vanney said after practice Saturday. Clearly we talked about (the fact) theres been change here which hes well aware of. I know hes been in communication with some of the guys.But he seems anxious to get back and get to work. Were happy to get him back in the team. Clearly he brings a lot of quality to the group, so were all happy to get him back here as quickly as possible.There is no firm date for his return to game action, although the Oct. 4 contest in Los Angeles against the Galaxy has been mentioned as a possible comeback.Theres really no way of knowing until he gets on the training field and sees what the response is to all the treatment hes had, said Vanney.Questions remain on how committed Defoe is to the club after this season, however. The next transfer window opens in January.Defoes future has been up in the air in the wake of the Aug. 31 firing of manager Ryan Nelsen and five assistant coaches. The club has also acknowledged turning down a franchise-record transfer offer for the English striker at the closing of the summer transfer window.And MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke, who brought Defoe to Toronto this season, told a group of Ryerson MBA studentts last week that he did not expected Defoe to be back next year. Anthony Duclair Jersey. anney, however, was far more positive, dismissing the suggestion that Defoe wanted to follow Nelsen out the door a€” at least this season. No, not at all, the new manager said. Especially speaking to the players who speak to (Defoe) a little more regularly, I dont think that was it. I think his frustration was from an injury. I think hes a winner and I think hes going to come back and help us be successful. I think thats his mindset.Whatever happens after that happens, but I think a player whos made it to his level is going to want to push forward to try to get into the playoffs and win a championship. Its a unique league. Its not a league that someone like Jermain is used to. Right now is the most exciting time of the year and then going into the playoffs.You go through the grind of MLS through the summer and the beginning of the year when its not a (standings) table and youre not always watching whos in first place. Right now is that. Were really in our playoffs right now to try to get into it (the post-season). This is the exciting time. And I think when he comes back and he feels that and he starts to understand that right now it is about the table and right now it is about getting to the playoffs. I think it gets all that much more exciting and I think a true competitor will take this on.Defoe is the clubs leading scorer with 11 goals in 16 games despite missing another 11 games through injury or suspension. Wholesale Jerseys 2018 NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL White Jerseys Black China NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap White NFL Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys Camo China Jerseys Stitched Jerseys China NFL Gear Cheap Jerseys Throwback Cheap Stitched Jerseys Youth NFL Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Hoodies NFL Jerseys Wholesale China Jerseys Cheap Wholesale Jerseys China NFL Jerseys White Wholesale NFL Autographed Jerseys Stitched Jerseys ' ' '