Fresh from the World Track Championships Elinor Barker (Wiggle HIGH5) was happy to see that there would be more prize money on offer but acknowledged that this would not change how she races. Barker said, “It’s good to have your efforts validated in that way with more prize money, though I will just focus on doing what I can especially as I will be adapting from doing seven-minute races in the velodrome to doing a hilly five-stage race.”

Women’s Tour race director, Mick Bennett said, “As organisers, we are delighted by the increased commitment of OVO Energy in relation to prize money. Their passion and support for the event will further enhance the development of the sport as well as the Women’s Tour.”

Details of the 678-km route were also unveiled, with the stand-out feature being a race profile that includes the most amount of climbing in the race’s five-year history. There will be a challenging finale that will see the competitors from the 17 teams ride from Dolgellau via Snowdonia to finish on the coast at Colwyn Bay, commemorating Wales’s Year of the Sea.

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Stage 2, which goes from Rushden to Daventry will include a double ascent of the 1km-long, 7% Newnham hill near the end of the stage.

There will be an air of poignancy at Stage 4 when it goes from Wychavon District to Worcester via the northern edge of the Cotswolds, home to the late Sharon Laws. This stage will be dedicated to the 2014 Queen of the Mountains winner and Olympic road racer.

WNT-Rotor rider and Commonwealth hopeful Hayley Simmonds liked the course and has kept her fingers crossed that she has the opportunity to compete in the Women’s Tour. Simmonds said, ”Although I am known more for my time trialling than anything else, I do like climbing. It’s great to see longer stages with more climbing. I do like those stages that have a lot of attritional stuff. I also like the fact that the race will go to Worcester, where I went to school. The final stage through Wales could lead to lots of attacking the hills, something I would want to do too.”

The 2018 OVO Women’s Tour runs from 13^th to 17^th June and will be contested by riders from 17 teams, including British squads, Wiggle HIGH5, Trek-Drops, WNT-Rotor Pro Cycling, and Storey Racing.