Star line-up for first ever Women’s Tour de Yorkshire

Olympian and Paralympian riders include Dame Sarah Storey and Joanna Rowsell, and Commonwealth Games heroine Katie Archibald, who are all part of the Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International team. Matrix Fitness have also entered a strong team with Yorkshire-born riders Jessie Walker and Penny Rowson. Other riders include Grace Garner and Nicola Juniper in the Giordana Triton Team, and Amy Roberts and 2014 National Circuit Race Champion Eileen Roe will be in the Wiggle Honda Team.

In a rare opportunity to race on closed and marshalled roads with National Escort Group assistance, the race will take in four laps of a 20km circuit. The race is being organised by British Cycling and Welcome to Yorkshire and will be started by Bob Howden, President of British Cycling.

Bob Howden said, “For the first edition of a race this is an impressive line-up. The Women’s Tour de Yorkshire creates a brand new race for domestic riders to pit themselves against Olympians and Paralympians and we look forward to seeing the race grow and develop”.

Racing clockwise around some of York’s key historic sights, organisers are encouraging spectators to come and create an electric atmosphere for the race which will start at 10.30am on day 2 of the Tour de Yorkshire, Saturday 2nd May. The start and finish line is at the northern end of the Knavesmire Road in York – the same place that will see the men’s race cross the line on their own two circuits of York before the finish of their Stage 2 later the same day.

Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said “After the Grand Départ of the Tour de France we promised to do all we can to promote women in cycling in Yorkshire and the first ever women’s Tour de Yorkshire is honouring that promise. This quality of riders for this first ever women’s race proves the interest and excitement out there and with these household names riding, we know it is going to be a superb and inspiring event”.

The race will include a sprint classification where points can be gained by sprinting to the finish line at the end of laps one, two and three. The top three riders crossing the line will be awarded 3, 2 and 1 points.

Kersten England, Chief Executive of City of York Council will award the podium prizes.

In total ten podium prizes will be awarded with one thousand pounds being awarded to the overall winner. There are prizes for the sprints winner, top three placed 2nd and 3rd Category riders and first, second and third overall placings.

Marc Etches, Race Director for the Women’s Tour de Yorkshire, said “Having such a significant prize fund for a circuit race, with £1,000 for the overall winner, states the intention clearly that the race wants to attract the top riders. It’s a huge boost to women’s cycling in the UK. I’m sure we will see some tactical, daring and hard fought racing”.

In addition to the prize money, Yorkshire bouquets from Flowers From The Farm will be awarded as well as Yorkshire hampers from Drewton’s Farm Shop.

Organisers are hoping spectators will turn out to support the first ever Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race on Saturday 2nd May starting at 10.30am on Knavesmire Road in York and it becomes a major women’s cycling event in the UK.