100 days to go until Friends Life Women's Tour marked in Bury St Edmundsþ

Last updated : 09 March 2015 By Women's Tour
Riders and organisers have today marked 100 days to go until the Friends Life Women's Tour, by officially launching the opening stage in Suffolk.

Further details of the opening stage of the 2015 Friends Life Women's Tour, which will start from where the 2014 Tour finished on Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds, were announced.

The 110.2-kilometre, (68.5mile), leg will be entirely within Suffolk passing through five Boroughs and Districts – St Edmundsbury, Mid Suffolk, Babergh, Ipswich and Suffolk Coastal – with an expected finish around 14:15 on Wednesday 17 June.

Heading east from Bury St Edmunds, the opening stage will take in Stowmarket, Ipswich, Woodbridge Saxmundham, and Leiston, before the final run in to Aldeburgh along the coast south from Thorpeness, with the finish on the Market Cross.

To celebrate the announcement, Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International riders Katie Curtis and Gabriella Shaw joined organisers and partners from Suffolk in Bury St Edmunds.

Two sprints will take place during the stage at Kesgrave, outside Kesgrave High School, and a second to be confirmed location. Riders will also tackle two Queen of the Mountain climbs at Hemmingstone, north of Ipswich, and at Snape, home to the world famous Concert Hall which is operated by Aldeburgh Music .

"In 100 days Suffolk will be host to the world's top teams and female riders for the opening stage of the Friends Life Women's Tour, with some beautiful scenery and a great location”, said Race Director Mick Bennett. 

"We are expecting an exciting sprint finish in Aldeburgh, with the stage winner becoming our first Friends Life Yellow Jersey of the 2015 race.”

Emma Hibbert Marketing Director for Adnams, the principal sponsors of the opening stage, said: "We're delighted to support Stage One of the Friends Life Women's Tour as it passes through the heart of 'Adnams country'. We're hoping for a terrific turnout of supporters once again this year. The riders will enjoy some superb Suffolk scenery as they head towards the Aldeburgh coast and will pass many Adnams pubs and shops along the way. But unfortunately I don't suppose they'll have time to stop!”

Commenting on hosting the Friends Life Women's Tour for the second successive year, Councillor Alan Murray, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for health and adult care, said:

"We are delighted to be hosting the Friends Life Women's Tour in the county again following the massive success of the inaugural event in 2014; it is a real coup to have secured the Grand Depart in Bury St Edmunds.

"Cycling is a fantastic way to build exercise into everyday life and with the recent launch of Suffolk's Year of Cycling; coupled with prestigious international events such as the Friends Life Women's Tour visiting the county, we hope it will inspire people to get on their bikes, whether it's for travel, leisure or sport.

"Suffolk is a fantastic county for cycling and without doubt it can make a significant contribution to our ambitions to become the most active county in England.” 


Having hosted the final stage of the first ever Friends Life Women's Tour in May 2014, Bury St Edmunds now welcomes the opening stage in June 2015, starting off from where the inaugural race finished.

Cllr Sarah Stamp, St Edmundsbury Borough Council Cabinet member for Leisure, Culture and Heritage said; "We cannot be more pleased that the Friends Life Women's Tour has chosen to return to Bury St Edmunds. The world class riders are inspirational, they really show that 'this girl can' and set a fabulous example to us all. There are so many opportunities this year for women and girls to get cycling - for daily travel, socially or training for the heat of competition, and I am looking forward to joining them.”

Having hosted a stage start at Felixstowe during the 2014 race, the Suffolk Coastal area will now welcome a stage finish for the first time.

Cllr TJ Haworth-Culf, Suffolk Coastal District Council's Cabinet Member with responsibility for Customers, Communities and Leisure, said: "Suffolk Coastal is delighted to be able to continue to support the Friends Life Women's Tour. We have had a great response from local people since we announced this news. The first stage finishing here will give a boost to this beautiful seaside town, bringing in extra tourism and raising the profile of both Aldeburgh and the entire District, while also encouraging people to have healthier lifestyles.  I am sure the people of Aldeburgh, and those along the entire route, will turn out to support this exceptional event.”

Highlights of the Friends Life Women's Tour will once again be screened every evening by ITV4.  Details of the remaining stages of the 2015 Friends Life Women's Tour will be announced over the coming weeks, along with further details about sponsors and the 16 teams from around the world competing.
 

To mark 100 days to go until the Friends Life Women's Tour, there will be further announcements daily this week, including Stage Two details (Tuesday 10 March), the announcement of the 16 competing teams (Wednesday 11 March) and sponsorship announcements (Thursday 12 and Friday 13 March).  Look out for further press releases and keep an eye on the Friends Life Women's Tour website and social media for more.

Further quotes

Councillor Derrick Haley, Leader of Mid Suffolk District Council, said: "We are delighted to be involved with the Friends Life Women's Tour again this year. It's a fantastic event, which was really well supported last year and helped to promote Mid Suffolk as a cycling destination to visitors from across the UK and Europe.

"It's great to see so many people cycling in Mid Suffolk and having a world renowned cycling event on our doorstep can only encourage more people of all ages to take up the sport.

"I hope our schools, residents, businesses and visitors will support and enjoy the race as it travels through the district.”


Councillor Jennie Jenkins, Leader of Babergh District Council, said: "Last year's event was such a success, we are naturally very pleased it's returning to the district. With so much media coverage, it's a great opportunity to promote everything that Babergh has to offer to visitors and cyclists alike.

"I'm sure it will be a fantastic day and hope the crowds will return to support one of the biggest races in the women's cycling calendar.”


The Friends Life Women's Tour
Created by SweetSpot Group, the Friends Life Women's Tour is the UK's first ever international stage-race, bringing the world's top riders to compete over five days in Great Britain.

SweetSpot are an event organiser and sports marketing company behind the organisation of the Friends Life Tour of Britain, the UK's biggest professional cycle race and the country's largest free-to-watch sporting event, and the creation of the unique Pearl Izumi Tour Series races.

The 2014 edition of the race, won by Marianne Vos, saw hundreds of thousands of spectators turn out at the roadside, with many more around the UK watching the ITV4 highlights.

The Friends Life Women's Tour will run from Wednesday 17th to Sunday 21st June 2015.

Stage One - Wednesday 17 June - Bury St Edmunds to Aldeburgh
Stage Two - Thursday 18 June - Braintree to Clacton
Stage Three - Friday 19 June - Oundle to Kettering
Stage Four - Saturday 20 June - Waltham Cross to Stevenage
Stage Five - Sunday 21 June - Marlow to Hemel Hempstead