World-class women's cycling returns

Image: velouk. Available here.

World-class women's cycling returns to Northamptonshire, with The Friends Life Women's Tour coming to the county in the summer.

Stage Three of the Friends Life Women's Tour is set to start in Oundle on Friday, 19th June, before finishing in Kettering town centre later that day.

Northamptonshire is set to hold the tour for the second successive year, following the success of last year's event.

Hannah Barnes, a professional cyclist from the county, who rides for the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling team said: 

“The prospect of racing on home roads again in the 2015 Friend’s Life Tour is very exciting. 

"Last years was unbelievable. The media exposure that race received was incredible and getting back to the hotel after the stage, turning the TV on and being able to watch a full hour of coverage was amazing.

“The crowds that lined the route were unbelievable and to have so many people coming out to support the event was humbling and really made me proud to be British. 

"Here’s to a great 2015 Tour. I can’t wait.”

The exact details for the Stage Three Northamptonshire route will be announced later this spring.

Friends Life Women's Tour Race Director Mike Bennett said: “Northamptonshire and Oundle gave us a great send-off for the first edition of the Friends Life Women’s Tour last May. 

"Both have been supporters of the event from the outset, so we are delighted to be returning to both, while Kettering is familiar to us from the Tour Series, and we are confident they will make a great finish for the stage.”

The confirmed list of the 16 competing teams will be confirmed sometime during the spring, joining the already announced teams of Matrix Fitness and debutant team Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International.

By Daryl Greenland