The 2022 Women’s Tour, Britain’s biggest and longest running women’s cycling stage race, will end with a Oxfordshire finale in June.
Stage six (Saturday 11 June) will start in Chipping Norton before culminating in Oxford city centre.
As part of race organiser SweetSpot’s three-year partnership with Oxfordshire County Council, and the county’s city and district councils, this stage will visit parts of the county that did not feature in previous stages.
Neither Chipping Norton, the county’s highest town, or Oxford have hosted a stage start or finish of the race to date, although many of the world’s best riders did pass through the city’s eastern side during last year’s stage from Bicester to Banbury.
This year’s stage winner will add their name to an already prestigious Oxfordshire roll of honour. Former world and European champions Jolien D’hoore and Marta Bastianelli triumphed in the race’s previous visits to the county. D’hoore took victory at Blenheim Palace in 2019, while Bastianelli won in Banbury on the opening day of last year’s race, which took place in October as a result of the pandemic.
Mick Bennett, Women’s Tour Race Director, said “Oxfordshire has welcomed the Women’s Tour so enthusiastically during our previous two editions.
“We’re particularly looking forward to taking the race to those parts of the county that we’ve not passed through in 2019 and 2021, particularly the beautiful market town of Chipping Norton, which will put on a show by hosting the stage start.
“The world-class field of riders we attract will compete around the world throughout the 2022 season, but I have little doubt that the finish in Oxford will be among the most spectacular backdrops they’re greeted with this year.”
Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said “What a fantastic way to showcase our wonderful county to the world.
“I’m confident this event will support and raise awareness of cycling and its benefits, as well as bring an economic boost to our communities – so important as businesses recover from the pandemic. Hosting this prestigious race for a third time is a great collaborative effort between the county council and our local authority colleagues.”
Councillor Jemima Hunt, Oxford City Council’s Active Travel and Cycling Champion, said “We’re excited to be hosting the finish of the UK Women’s Tour in Oxford this year. Over the last two years the race has showcased our beautiful county, and we’re proud to welcome them to our historic city.
“I hope we’ll see more people inspired to get on their bikes to travel round the city and out across the county. As Chris Boardman at Active Travel England announced last week, the ambition is for 50 per cent of journeys to be made by bike, or on foot, by 2030.”
Highlights of this year’s race will once again be shown on ITV4 in the UK, and around the world via Eurosport and GCN. Women’s Tour organiser SweetSpot is continuing to work on securing the funding required to broadcast the event live.
The race’s opening stage, taking place between Colchester and Bury St Edmunds (Monday 6 June) and a return to Carmarthenshire for a summit finish atop Black Mountain on day five (Friday 10 June) were announced on International Women’s Day earlier in March. Details of stages two, three and four will follow in due course.
www.womenstour.co.uk
www.sweetspotgroup.co.uk
