Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women Preview

The Tour of Britain Women (2.WWT) will take place from Thursday 6th June to Sunday 9th June 2024. After a one year hiatus and with new organisation, the 2024 edition will have a brand new identity. Four tough road stages await, starting in Welshpool (Wales) and finishing in Leigh (England). Following an impressive performance at the RideLondon Classique (2.WWT) two weeks ago, with Alice Sharpe finishing 23rd on GC and Nora Tveit finishing 12th on stage 3, the squad will return to the World Tour peloton with confidence.

Stage 1: Welshpool - Llandudno, 142.5km, 2,276m

“Departing from Welshpool’s Broad Street in the heart of mid-Wales, the riders will face a formidably challenging opening stage, with 2,276m of climbing to endure. The stage will also feature one sprint and two Queen of the Mountains segments.

Heading out through Berriew, the peloton will take in the challenging Llangynog climb at the 65km mark, known locally as the Berwyn Pass, which is 6km in length with an average gradient of 5.4%.

The route also passes through the market towns of Llanfyllin and Bala, touching the shores of the expansive Llyn Tegid, before passing through the picturesque village of Cerrigydrudion.

A series of punchy climbs with 10km to go are likely to whittle down the bunch as it enters Llandudno, passing Conwy Castle before a spectacular finish on the promenade.

The stage will start at 11:15, with riders expected to reach the finish in Llandudno at around 15:10.”

British Cycling

How to Watch: YouTube, Eurosport, Discovery+, Highlights ITV4 at 8pm.

Stage 2: Wrexham - Wrexham, 140.2km, 1,570m

“The race’s second stage will start and finish on Chester Street in Wrexham’s city centre and will take in some of the breathtaking scenery in Denbighshire, West Cheshire and Chester, with a further one sprint and two Queen of the Mountains segments along the way.

The peloton will travel north out of Wrexham, crossing into West Cheshire after just 20km, where the route ramps up alongside the Peckforton Hill Range, part of the Mid-Cheshire Ridge.

The route will then cross back into Wrexham, taking in the villages of Bangor-on-Dee and Overton, before the sprint will be decided in Johnstown. The race will then continue along a scenic stretch of the Llangollen Canal.

Riders will have less climbing to contend with on this stage, however big crowds will be expected on the iconic Horseshoe Pass, which arrives at a pivotal point of the stage with around 30km to go.

The ensuing descent will set up a fast run-in to Wrexham for the stage finish to conclude the race’s journey in Wales, passing through Minera and Rhostyllen, before a short hop back over the border to Warrington for stage three.

Stage two will start at 11:15, with riders expected to return to Wrexham for the stage finish at approximately 15:15.”

British Cycling

How to Watch: YouTube, Eurosport, Discovery+, Highlights ITV4 at 8pm.

Stage 3: Warrington - Warrington, 106.8km, 792m

”The stage will start and finish in front of the iconic Golden Gates of Warrington Town Hall, with the peloton immediately heading south, crossing the River Mersey and Great Manchester Canal. Riders will then pass the stunning Walton Hall and Gardens before breezing through the picturesque Cheshire West and Chester villages of Higher Whitley, Great Budworth and Wincham.

The anti-clockwise route will gradually start to ramp up from around the 25km mark, before the bunch faces the two main climbs of the day, where points in the two Queen of the Mountains segments are up for grabs.

Riders will ascend the 5.66km-long climb from Pexhill Road to Broken Cross where the first QOM points will be up for grabs, before descending into Prestbury, which sits in sight of the Pennine foothills.

Crossing the River Bollin, the route then ramps back up to Pott Shrigley in the foothills of the Peak District where further QOM points await.

Two further kickers in Mottram St Andrew will add a further sting before the route passes through Knutsford and onto Mere for the intermediate sprint.

A short, sharp descent from Appleton Thorn will set the peloton up for a fast, flat run back into Warrington for what is expected to be a nail-biting finish, with riders expected to cross the line at around 14:18.”

British Cycling

How to Watch: YouTube, Eurosport, Discovery+, Highlights ITV4 at 8pm.

Stage 4: Manchester - Leigh, 99.2km, 1,616m

“Named the first ever European Capital of Cycling for 2024, Greater Manchester will welcome some of the biggest names in women’s cycling as they go head-to-head over 99km and 1,615m of elevation before the winner of the inaugural Tour of Britain Women is crowned.

The anticlockwise route will cross the Ashton Canal, heading northeast to Oldham shortly before riders will face the first Queen of the Mountains segment of the day. At 2.72km long with an average gradient of 5.5%, the Delph to Grains Bar climb features 23km into the route and lies among the Pennines.

The rolling route will take in the towns of Shaw and Rochdale with riders facing a fast descent through Edenfield before taking on the short but formidable Ramsbottom Rake. Just 0.97km in length but averaging at a 9.9% gradient, the climb known locally as “The Rake” is where the final QOM points of the competition will be collected.

The peloton will then pass the picturesque Wayoh and Entwistle Reservoirs in Edgworth before facing a series of punchy kickers from Dimple which are likely to do some further damage.

The day’s intermediate sprint segment sits on Lee Lane in Horwich with 24km of the race remaining.

A fast, flat run into Leigh will set the stage for what is expected to be a spectacular finish to the race where spectators will witness history in action as the overall race winner will be crowned.

The race will depart at 11:15 from the National Cycling Centre, the home of British Cycling, with riders expected to cross the finish line in Leigh at approximately 14:06.”

British Cycling

How to Watch: YouTube, Eurosport, Discovery+, Highlights ITV4 at 8pm.

Our Team:

Tiffany Keep

Lucy Lee

Caoimhe O’Brien

Darcie Richards

Alice Sharpe

Ruth Shier