WOMEN'S TOUR

As Britain's premier women's race gets ready to roll, we break down the stages and preview the riders to watch out for

A collection of strong British names are set to line up for next week's Women's Tour, which starts in Colchester, Essex on Monday (6 June). British road champion Pfeiffer Georgi (Team DSM) will be joined by Katie Archibald (Ceratizit-WNT) and Anna Henderson (Jumbo-Visma).

With former Hour record holder Joss Lowden (Uno-X Pro) alongside the rider who has just taken the record from her, Ellen van Dijk (Trek-Segafredo). Georgi's Dutch team-mate Lorena Weibes, who swept up a brace of stages last year, also returns to UK shores, while overall contenders Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) and Katarzyna Niewiadoma (CanyonSRAM) are also set to be there. Only two British teams will be lining up for the UK's biggest stage race Le Col-Wahoo and CAMS Basso Bikes both got a late call-up.

There will be something for everyone in this year's edition, as it makes its way west across England from Essex to Wales, the challenge building as the race goes on. The first two stages in Essex look made for the sprinters, while things ramp up on stage three from Tewkesbury to Gloucester. The race then heads into the mountains of Wales for tough back-to-back days culminating in a summit finish on Black Mountain on stage five.

For the final stage, the peloton should be able to ease off the gas a little and let the sprinters have their day again, as the race about-turns back into England and enjoys a Cotswolds jaunt, finishing in a showpiece city-centre finish in Oxford.

RIDERS TO WATCH

LORENA WIEBES 23

(DSM)

Women's Tour starts: 1 Best Women's Tour result: 49th on GC, two stage victories 2021

2022 Race Days: 18

The most successful sprinter in the women's peloton, Wiebes thrives on the back of an excellent DSM leadout, but is versatile enough to freelance at the end of a long, attritional day.