The Aviva Women’s Tour is one of few women’s stages races to achieve the highest ranking available from the UCI. A 2.1 race, it sits alongside the Giro Rosa and Tour of Qatar in prestige.

Attracting top level riders, and teams such as Boels Dolmans and Rabo Liv, the race is by far the most prestigious to be held on a now annual basis in the UK.

One of few women’s stage races at this level, the 2014 Tour was hailed as a huge step forward for women’s cycling, having attracted huge crowds and daily TV broadcasts as a standalone event, independent of the men’s race.

The action will kick off in less than two weeks, on Wednesday 17th June. Here’s our essential guide – but stay tuned over the next week for even more detail on what’s to come…