Women’s Tour make urgent plea for support as it drops to five stages

09 March 2023 , 17:53

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This year's Women's Tour has been reduced to five stages with the race concluding with a circuit race around Birmingham city centre (Image: PA)

The Women's Tour has made an urgent plea to potential sponsors for support after the cycle race was reduced from six to five days.

The professional women's cycling race was started in 2014 and Yorkshire cycling star Lizzie Deignan has won the event twice. This year's event has been reduced to five stages and will take place between June 7 and 11.

The race will conclude with a circuit race around Birmingham city centre. The first four stages will finish in Royal Leamington Spa, Ampthill, Guisborough and Derby.

However, organisers SweetSpot has sent an urgent plea for additional income and a title sponsor for their event.

"Today’s route announcement comes as the race organisers have revealed that the race urgently requires additional commercial income for the 2023 edition," said a statement from the race organiser.

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"As well as the title sponsorship of the event, three of the race’s four prestigious jersey classifications (leader, mountains, and best young rider) remain available, while 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."

Former world champion Lizzie Deignan has won the Women's Tour twice (PA)

Cycling fans in Wales and Scotland raised concerns that all five stages are taking place in England with the finish in Guisborough the furthest north.

@AdjuaP commented on Twitter: "seems a very English based tour..... Look forward to other countries featuring in future years to inspire girls there too."

In reply the Women's Tour's Twitter account commented: "We previously announced that Wales - which welcomed two days in 2022 - will host next year's Grand Départ (first stage). Additionally, with less than a week to play with and (rightful) UCI restrictions on average daily stage length/travel time, we're never going to be able cover all of the UK."

Dutch cycling star Lorena Wiebes (middle) won three stages of last year's race (PA)

After the race route was announced Women’s Tour race director, Mick Bennett commented: “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. See you all in June!”

Sweetspot also organise the men's professional cycle race the Tour of Britain which is scheduled to take place over eight days between September 3 and 8 starting in Manchester and finishing in Wales - with further details yet to be announced.

Last month Sweetspot announced that their Tour Series event - which sees British domestic teams race in town centres across the UK - is taking a one-year hiatus. The organisers said that they had made the decision due to 'most challenging economic climate the series has faced' since creating the televised series 2009.

Benjamin Goddard