March 2017

WARWICKSHIRE MEANS BUSINESS

Women's Tour will showcase Warwickshire at its best

The eyes of the sporting world will be on Warwickshire in June when top women cyclists visit as part of the Women’s Tour 2017, bringing a welcome boost for the county's economy.

Warwickshire County Council has announced that, in partnership with the University of Warwick, the county will host Stage Three of the Tour on Friday 9 June.

Last year, the first time the Tour came to Warwickshire, 75,000 spectators lined the route and event organisers are hoping for an even greater turnout in 2017. As well as showcasing some of the region’s famed countryside, the Tour will pass through some of its historic towns as well as through the campus of the University of Warwick.

With a global television audience of around 80 million and daily televised updates of each stage, The Women’s Tour is set to showcase Warwickshire at its best.

Evaluation of the Warwickshire stage of the Tour in 2016 revealed that, of the 75,000 spectators, around 40,000 came from outside the county. Of these, nearly 15% stayed overnight, generating over £500,000 for the local accommodation industry.

The local food and drink industry saw £2 million generated by visitors while local shops also welcomed gross spending of nearly £750,000 by spectators from outside the county.

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Warwickshire County Council’s leader and portfolio holder for economic development said: “Having already seen what a tremendous event the Women’s Tour is, I am thrilled to see it coming back to the county. It creates a buzz that is felt for some time after the event and local businesses reported an increase in trade that lasted for weeks after last year’s event.”

Professor Simon Swain, University of Warwick Pro-vice-chancellor (External Engagement) said: “We are delighted to be welcoming the Women’s Tour back to the University of Warwick. Since our inception, the University of Warwick has been a positive driver of education, innovation and cultural development throughout our region and has shown the strongest commitment to providing equal opportunities for women and men to achieve their goals.”

Commenting on the Warwickshire stage, Mick Bennett, Women’s Tour race director, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be returning to Warwickshire again in 2017. The stunning countryside is perfect for lots of exciting racing and we’re sure the world’s best riders will put on quite a show for all the thousands of spectators that come out to support.”

Cllr Philip Johnson, Chair of Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee said: “A high profile event such as the Women’s Tour showcases what the council has to offer to a global audience. I am thrilled that so many of the visitors to the event last year were from outside Warwickshire.”

The Warwickshire route which will face the world’s top female cyclists includes two Eisberg Sprints (Warwick Road, Kenilworth, and Wellesbourne) and two Queen of the Mountain climbs (Edge Hill and Burton Dassett).

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