WHY I LOVE…

A J BELL WOMEN’S TOUR 4-9 Oct | GB | 2.WWT

There is something special about The Women’s Tour. It is one of the biggest stage races for professional women, and yet this year’s event will take place entirely within quite a small part of Britain, with stages being held from Walsall to Clactonon-Sea. It’s a high-profile race where the place with the most stage visits is Atherstone in Warwickshire. And yet the world’s best cyclists will be there, and the list of winners is a Who’s Who of the peloton.

The crowds are always huge at British races, and to see big names speed through quaint English villages is always entertaining. It is only one of five stage races on the Women’s WorldTour, but in a way it is the most accessible, with race coverage on TV. The fact that it is over six stages also allows for the race to breathe and a narrative to be constructed, which is difficult when an event is shorter. Equal prize money for the Tour of Britain and the Women’s Tour is also a great plus for this race, and makes it all the more important for the riders: they are not just competing for prestige but solid money.