Women's Tour will bring huge economic benefit to Warwickshire

“Now we are looking to cautiously and safely open up our economy more broadly and welcome more visitors to the county, as well as being fantastic entertainment for spectators, this event will be of huge economic benefit to the area."

 

Warwickshire's visitor economy is set for a big boost next month when The Women’s Tour breaks new ground again as the county hosts the first individual time trial stage in race history.

Atherstone will host the time trial’s start and finish on day three of this year’s race (Wednesday 6 October), marking a record fourth time that the Women’s Tour will have visited the North Warwickshire market town. The anti-clockwise loop passes through Bentley, Birchley Heath and Mancetter before finishing in the heart of Atherstone itself.

Warwickshire County Council is supporting the event, which is the eighth major cycling event to visit the county in the last five years.

The county has hosted a stage of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour for four years and OVO Energy Tour of Britain for two years.

In 2019, neighbouring Bedworth saw the OVO Energy Women’s Tour pass through the town for the first time.

Nuneaton and Warwick also hosted a stage of the 2018 OVO Energy Tour of Britain, starting off in the town centre.

Councillor Izzi Seccombe said: "I am thrilled that Stage 3 route for the Women’s Tour will be taking in so much of historic Atherstone and surrounding villages as competitors race against the clock along the 10 mile long route.

“Now we are looking to cautiously and safely open up our economy more broadly and welcome more visitors to the county, as well as being fantastic entertainment for spectators, this event will be of huge economic benefit to the area.

"It’s an opportunity for local businesses in Atherstone to celebrate and embrace cycling as the race comes past their front door, as well as for others to maximise on business opportunities from increased customers and visitors to the county.

“Warwickshire has a rich history in hosting high-level cycling events having previously played host to legs of both the men's and women's Tour of Britain over the last few years and has also been selected as the location for the Commonwealth Games Road Race in 2022, demonstrating that the county is a world-class location for cycling and cyclists.

To coincide with the Tour, the High Sheriff of Warwickshire, Min Willoughby de Broke, will be cycling over 200 miles around the county with two key aims: To showcase the incredible people, organisations and independent businesses that make Warwickshire the best it can be to live, work and visit; and to raise £10k for the High Sheriff’s Fund, which supports small voluntary and community organisations across Warwickshire.

More information about the Women’s Tour can be found at: https://www.womenstour.co.uk/

Find out more about the Teams that will be taking part: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article/2289/world-s-best-cycling-teams-announced-for-the-women-s-tour-coming-to-warwickshire-in-october-2021