A Birmingham city centre finale, the most northerly stage in race history and a return to three former host venues featured in this year’s Women’s Tour.
Britain’s longest-running international women’s cycle race returns for its ninth edition in 2023, with this year’s route featuring six new start and finish locations and opportunities for combative and unpredictable racing.
This year’s Women’s Tour will comprise the following stages:
Stage 1 – Wednesday 7 June – Stratford-upon-Avon to Royal Leamington Spa
Stage 2 – Thursday 8 June – Northampton to Ampthill
Stage 3 – Friday 9 June – Dalby Forest to Guisborough
Stage 4 – Saturday 10 June – Coleshill to Derby
Stage 5 – Sunday 11 June – Birmingham city centre circuit race
The route announcement comes as the race organisers have revealed that the race itself urgently requires additional commercial income for the 2023 edition.
As well as the title sponsorship of the event, sponsorship of three of the race’s four jersey classifications (leader, mountains, and best young rider) remain available. In addition, individual stage partnership packages (including naming rights) have been launched for the first time for selected stages. The search for an auto partner to supply vehicles also continues.
This year’s Women’s Tour has already attracted the support of cottages.com, Brother UK, Accurist and cycleGuard. The organisers hope that the route announcement will generate additional commercial interest in the race.
Mick Bennett, Women’s Tour Race Director, said “While it seems like only yesterday that we were crowning Elisa Longo Borghini as our 2022 champion following that dramatic finale in Oxford, it feels fantastic to unveil the stages for this year’s Women’s Tour.
“Given the current economic climate, we have had to work harder than ever before to put together a race befitting of the world’s best teams and riders; so I must thank all of our stakeholders for their continued support of the event.
“We look forward to seeing engaged communities, packed towns, and crowded cities at this year’s race.”
Launched in 2014, the award-winning event was the UK’s first international stage race for women. Previous winners include Marianne Vos (2014), Lizzie Deignan (2016, 2019) and Demi Vollering (2021).
Further details of this year’s race, including competing teams, leaders’ jerseys and stage routes, will be revealed in the coming weeks.
