PARIS -- Finally, the Tour de France is giving women a more visible role than just congratulating the male riders. 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. 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Greg Chase and Kenton Helgesen also scored for the Hitmen (18-7-4), who extended their win streak to five games, while Brady Brassart chipped in with two assists.PARIS -- Milos Raonic lost his chance for a spot in the ATP World Tour Finals, as the Canadian went down to a 7-6 (13), 6-4 loss against Tomas Berdych on Thursday in the third round of the Paris Masters. The defeat in just under two hours also settled the final lineup for the eight-man season wrapup, which starts Monday in London. Stanislas Wawrinka and Richard Gasquet gained the last two places as a result of Raonics loss. The 22-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., lost against Berdych for the first time. He had beaten the Czech in both of their previous matches, including a September final in Bangkok. No Canadian has ever reached the year-end event in singles, though Torontos Daniel Nestor has made multiple appearances in doubles. "I didnt have any pressure thinking about London," said Raonic, who fired 18 aces and only lost his serve once. "I actually didnt think about it until I stepped off the court, It was not a part of my mental process. "The two guys who made London deserved it. I had a match point against Gasquet at the U.S. Open, maybe things would be different now if I had won that one. But I cant really say Im disappointed. "I see how close I came," saiid Raonic, who will still gets a handsome payday as an alternate in London, "I know I can improve a lot more.dddddddddddd" Raonic battled hard with the sixth-seeded Berdych during a 68-minute opening set, saving five set points while failing to convert on two of his own. Once the set was done -- Berdych put a forehand winner into the corner to claim it -- the Czech then broke Raonic to start the second set. Raonic was forced to play catch-up and failed to get the break back. "He played well at the important moments, he was fired up," said Raonic. "The reason Im not in London is not because of the last few weeks, its because of the first five to seven months of the year, when I played poorly at one point. "Theres not too much to be disappointed with, I improved a lot at the later stages of the season. Im trying to focus on the right things and playing in the right way. Ill have opportunities to contend for bigger moments and bigger events." Raonic ends 2013 with 45 wins and 21 losses, earning titles at San Jose and Bangkok. He was playing this tournament for only the second time and has yet to get past the third round at the Bercy arena. cheap nfl jerseys ' ' '