| The second edition of the Friends Life Women's Tour will conclude this June with an exciting stage through the Chiltern Hills between Marlow and Hemel Hempstead on Sunday 21st June. It will mark the first occasion that the Friends Life Women's Tour has visited the area and both venues. The event also builds on the successful hosting of a memorable Stage Six of the men's Friends Life Tour of Britain in September 2014 by Buckinghamshire County Council, Wycombe District Council, Chiltern District Council, LEAP and Dacorum Borough Council. That stage saw a memorable three rider escape, with Alex Dowsett pulling on the Friends Life Yellow Jersey, and Stage Five of the Friends Life Women's Tour will have the same finish location, Gadebridge Park in Hemel Hempstead. Andrew Williams, Leader of Dacorum Borough Council said; "Last year's Stage 6 finish of the Friends Life Tour of Britain was a fantastic event for Dacorum so it is a real thrill that we will be welcoming the overall final of the Friends Life Women's Tour in June. It will be a challenging route, over twenty miles of which will be in Dacorum. Our community turned out in huge numbers for the men's Tour and I am sure we can expect the same encouragement from spectators in the park for the women's final this year.” Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire County Council said; "We're really excited to be hosting the final stage of the Friends Life Women's Tour cycling event. The day is going to be a fantastic opportunity for people to see the world's top cyclists go head to head against the stunning backdrop of the Chiltern Hills. "This event will be a fun day out for all ages. I hope both residents and visitors will join us to make Buckinghamshire's leg of the cycling tour a huge success." The second edition of the Friends Life Women's Tour takes place from Wednesday 17 – Sunday 21 June, again taking place over five stages with daily highlights on ITV4. Starting from Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, subsequent stages will be held in Suffolk, Essex and Northamptonshire before the penultimate stage, also in Hertfordshire, from Waltham Cross to Stevenage on Saturday 20 June. The exact details of the Stage Five route and Ordnance Survey mapping will be announced in the Spring. Commenting on the announcement, Friends Life Women's Tour Race Director Mick Bennett said; "We are excited to be bringing the final stage of Friends Life Women's Tour to a new area, and one we know, from last year's Friends Life Tour of Britain, can prove testing and challenging for riders. "With this in mind we are confident it will be an exciting and open race, with the destination of the race victory up for grabs on Stage Five, and look forward to working with our partners in Buckinghamshire and Dacorum to make it the best possible day for riders and fans.” The full list of 16 teams for the Friends Life Women's Tour will be confirmed during the Spring, joining the already announced teams of Matrix Fitness and debutants Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International. |
| 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 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 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 |