The North West and North Wales have landed three of the four stages of British Cycling’s curtailed Tour of Britain Women 2024.
The 2024 will consist of four stages, down from six in the most recent edition of predecessor event The Women’s Tour in 2022. The sport’s governing body took organisation of the race in house in February following the liquidation of former promoter Sweetspot.
Taking place from Thursday 6 June to Sunday 9 June 2024, the race will see the world’s top female riders and teams go head-to-head across four stages of racing, in what will be the first major international stage race delivered by British Cycling Events.
The race will begin in Welshpool, mid-Wales. Welshpool hosted the thrilling finish of stage four of the 2022 Women’s Tour, where Australia’s Grace Brown (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope) sprinted to victory. The stage will see riders head north to the picturesque seaside town of Llandudno, in what will be a challenging start to the race.
Stage two will see riders stay in Wales for a start and finish just over the border in Wrexham, which also featured in the 2022 Women’s Tour. The rolling route will take in a series of challenging climbs in the dramatic Clwydian Range and Dee Valley, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Wales.
The tour then will cross the Welsh border into Cheshire, where Warrington will host both the start and finish of stage three on Saturday, with a flatter route that will favour the sprinters. Warrington welcomed the men’s Tour of Britain in 2021, where Ethan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers) claimed a memorable stage win.
The race will conclude in Greater Manchester, as part of the city region’s European Capital of Cycling celebrations. Riders will depart from the National Cycling Centre, the home of British Cycling, before taking in some of the region’s challenging climbs before they reach the finish line in Leigh, where the race winner will be crowned.
It is expected that hundreds of thousands of fans will line the streets to support the race, as the country gears up for another thrilling summer of cycling.
The route has been designed and agreed in just 10 weeks, and British Cycling extended gratitude to the Welsh Government, Wrexham County Borough Council, Warrington Borough Council, Manchester Active and others who helped ge the event off the ground in record time.
Jon Dutton OBE, CEO of British Cycling, said: “While there is still a great deal of work to do, today is another important milestone in our journey and reflective of the enormous goodwill and support which major road cycling events continue to enjoy
“Our primary focus has been to deliver a safe and competitive race in 2024, but we remain every bit as determined to harness the race’s spotlight to make a real impact in the communities which it touches, and know that is a vision which resonates strongly in conversations with prospective commercial partners and hosts.”
Rod Ellingworth, who was announced as Tour of Britain race director in March, added: “It’s been a monumental effort by the whole team over the past 10 weeks to confirm the stages for this year’s Tour of Britain Women. The race will take in four competitive and challenging routes, some challenging climbing in Wales and what I’m sure will be brilliant crowds on the roadside throughout.”
Earlier this month, British Cycling announced that the Tour of Britain Men would be delivered over six days in 2024, with an ambition to bring future parity to the two national tours, following the alignment of the event names in 2024.
Positive conversations continue with a number of commercial partners along with towns and cities interested in hosting future stages of both the men’s and women’s events.
Eamonn O’Rourke, CEO of Manchester Active, said: “In the year Manchester was successful in becoming the very first European Capital of Cycling, we are delighted to be announced as a host stage for the 2024 Tour of Britain Women.
“Hosting such a prestigious event cements Manchester’s commitment to supporting women’s sport at all levels, and our dedication to encourage more women and girls to participate in sport and physical activity. Having hosted the Men’s Tour of Britain back in 2019 and more recently, the Grand Depart in 2023, it is a real honour to welcome and support the women’s stage to Manchester.
“We’re also thrilled that the route will commence from the National Cycling Centre, our world-famous ‘medal factory’ and home of British Cycling, providing a spectacular backdrop for the start of this stage – a unique opportunity only available when hosting cycling events in Manchester.”
