Andy Briggs, Friends Life Group Chief Executive, with Olympic Gold Medal medallist and triple world champion, Dani King, (R) and double World Junior Road Race Champion, Lucy Garner, (L) to announce Friends Life’s sponsorship of the inaugural Women’s Tour, at Friends Life Group headquarters in London.
Life assurance provider Friends Life was this morning announced as the title sponsor for this year's Women's Tour.
The FTSE 100 company, which also backs the popular t20 cricket competition, will also have its logos bedeck the race leader's yellow jersey.
Today's announcement ends what has been a lengthy search for financial backers by race organiser SweetSpot. In December, event director Guy Elliott described the hunt for a title sponsor as "tough, regardless of the event"
Supporters of the race's other jerseys have been found. Strava will sponsor the Queen of the Mountains classification (jersey, left), Matrix will back the Best Young Rider competition, and Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research will become partners of the Best British Rider jersey.
The sponsor of the "green-ish" points jersey will be announced in due course.
Hugh Roberts, Chief Executive of organisers SweetSpot said of today's announcement: "This partnership is very much an affirmation of what we wanted for The Women's Tour when we set out on this journey.
"Securing the support of such an established blue chip organisation, will raise the profile of not only women's cycling but women's sport in general within the UK - Friends Life are the perfect fit.”
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Current world cup leader Lizzie Armitstead, along with current world road race and time trial champions Marianne Vos and Ellen van Dijk, are among those competing in the inaugural edition of the race.
Women's Tour 2014: Stages
Stage one, Wednesday May 7 Oundle to Northampton, 93.8km
Stage two, Thursday May 8 Hinckley to Bedford, 118.5km
Stage three, Friday May 9 Felixstowe to Clacton-on-Sea, 90.5km
Stage four, Saturday May 10 Cheshunt to Welwyn Garden City, 87.8km
Stage five, Sunday May 11 Harwich to Bury St. Edmunds, 108.3km
