British Cycling rejected application for Women's Tour to expand to seven days
Minutes from a British Cycling Board Meeting reveal that the governing body didn't favour an expansion to Britain's premier women's race

As this year’s Women’s Tour wound up in Kettering last June, rumours the race would be extended to seven days began to circulate around press and peloton alike. However, the 2017 Women’s WorldTour calendar, published by the UCI earlier this month, reveals next year’s event will, like the three previous editions, consist of only five stages.
Organisers Sweetspot have confirmed to Cycling Weekly that they did indeed ask for an extension, but that British Cycling rejected their application. We also understand the UCI had indicated they were happy to approve such an extension.
>>> Full Ardennes Classics week among highlights of Women’s WorldTour 2017 calendar
The race was discussed at British Cycling’s Board Meeting held on June 29th at the federation’s Manchester headquarters. Earlier this month minutes of that meeting were published (opens in new tab) on their website.
Those minutes state: “The new London Mayor has stated an ambition to host “the Women’s Tour” next year and date restrictions have led Sweetspot to suggest that the event needs to be increased to seven days, starting in London on a Sunday.”
As in previous years, the 2017 event begins on a Wednesday, so the London start now appears highly unlikely. BC said it would have allowed the race to extend to seven days for one year only, to "strengthen our relationship with TfL [Transport for London]", and indicated it would have needed a strong presence at the event.
The minutes further state, “… it was agreed that the preference would be for the event to remain at five days as it fits with the UCI objective to have a strong calendar of five day Women’s events, and to investigate finishing the event in London on a Sunday. Should this be impossible, it was agreed to move to a seven day event, for one year only…”
The race has been hugely successful since its inception in 2014, with massive roadside crowds and television highlights each evening. Indeed, perhaps the only thing missing from the race was live television coverage, something Sweetspot are keen to deliver for future years, and something which may have been more likely with a seven day event.
Race organiser, Guy Elliott, told Cycling Weekly: “We have been granted five days for next year and obviously we’re pleased. It’s well established and we’re happy that we will have a really great race next year. But we are disappointed that we aren’t being granted the seven days we applied for.
“I don’t know why they [British Cycling] have not supported the extension,” Elliott concluded.
A clue may be found in the meeting minutes which state, “… a strategy needs to be developed to ensure that there is a long term ambition to move towards a high quality national women’s tour.” This raises questions about the federation’s long term intentions, as such an event already exists in the form of the Women’s Tour.
In 2012 British Cycling put the organisation of the men’s race, the Tour of Britain out to tender, despite it having been organised by Sweetspot since they successfully relaunched the event in 2004 following a hiatus of four years.
On October 20th CW approached British Cycling for clarification on their stance. The following day BC told us they were preparing a statement. That statement has not yet been received.
This year’s third edition of the Women’s Tour, with its undulating route though England’s midlands, was won by Lizzie Deignan (Boels-Dolmans) and widely regarded as the best edition to date.
Finishing in Stratford Upon Avon, Chesterfield and Stoke respectively, the middle three stages in particular provided entertaining and aggressive racing. Riders have consistently praised the event as one of the best organised on their calendar.
Next year’s Women’s Tour runs between Wednesday 7 and Sunday 11 June. Stage details are not yet known.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Owen Rogers is an experienced journalist, covering professional cycling and specialising in women's road racing. He has followed races such as the Women's Tour and Giro d'Italia Donne, live-tweeting from Women's WorldTour events as well as providing race reports, interviews, analysis and news stories. He has also worked for race teams, to provide post race reports and communications.
-
-
Geraint Thomas gets his Tour bid underway in Copenhagen
Former winner forgets to take his gilet off before losing confidence through the wet corners
By Simon Richardson • Published
-
'I'm just a farmer's son from Belgium' — Yves Lampaert shocked at winning stage one of the Tour de France
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider says he was hoping for a top ten, but went five seconds faster than anyone else in the time trial
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Despite giving up sprinting for signs third place earns Longo Borghini Women’s Tour victory
The Italian champion finished third in the bunch sprint in Oxford earning enough bonus seconds to take the overall
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
'It’s not the way we want to end it' says Lorena Wiebes after her third Women’s Tour stage victory
Despite the victory equalling the Women’s Tour records of Marianne Vos and Join D’hoore th team worked for Charlotte Kool on the final stage into Oxford
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Elisa Longo Borghini wins the Women’s Tour by slender bonus seconds margin
Bonus seconds taken in the final bunch kick took the Italian to a one second overall win
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
£50K of bikes and kit stolen from Trek-Segafredo in second theft in two weeks
American team lose two bikes and other equipment stolen from their team truck parked at a Swansea hotel
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Grace Brown hangs onto to the Women’s Tour overall by the thinnest margin
With the top two on equal time going into the final stage the race is set for a fascinating tactical battle
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Elisa Longo Borghini climbs to victory on stage five of The Women's Tour
Trek-Segafredo rider triumphs on Black Mountain but Grace Brown remains in race lead
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Inside the DSM sprint train which makes Lorena Wiebes the world’s best sprinter
Dutch neo-pro Charlotte Kool happy to lead Lorena Wiebes to victory after blaming herself for the stage one crash
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Lorena Wiebes powers clear of the field to win stage two of the Women's Tour
The Dutchwoman won her ninth race of the season, and her fifth race in England this year
By Owen Rogers • Published