Earlier today, it was announced that OVO Energy will be increasing the Women’s Tour prize fund by €55,000 to equal that of the OVO Energy men’s Tour of Britain. The news came as the event organisers also released the five-stage tour course at a reception held at the Houses of Parliment.

The announcement was made on the eve of International Women’s Day which celebrates the achievement of women and aims to raise awareness for equal rights, including gender pay parity. We’ve already seen the Tour Down Under make the same movement to provide equal prize money, as well as British Cycling who increased women’s prize money to match the men’s.

Attending the reception was former World Champion, Lizzie Deignan who said; “… it’s an important step to offer equal prize money to the comparative men’s race. To be honest, I wish gender parity wasn’t an issue in cycling; I think I speak on behalf of most women in the peloton when I say I just want to get on and compete and be recognised fairly for what we do.”