Marianne Vos will compete in this year’s inaugural Women’s Tour, it was announced this morning.
The reigning world and Olympic road race champion will spearhead the Rabo Live team in the event, which begins in Northamptonshire on May 7.
"It's great that we get a big new stage race on our calendar with The Women's Tour," said Vos, who won an Olympic gold medal on her last road race appearance in Britain.
"The times that I've raced in Great Britain – with of course the London Olympic Games fresh in my mind – I have been amazed by the huge crowds and the enthusiastic people. I'm sure it will be a fantastic event and I'm looking forward to competing here with the best riders from all over the World.”
Because of the race's 2.1 UCI ranking, the best available for a women's stage race, organiser SweetSpot are able to invite the top 10-ranked squads to the event.
Cycling Weekly understands that interest among these squads is high, raising the possibility that the Boels-Dolmans and Wiggle-Honda – the teams of Lizzie Armitstead and Ellen van Dijk, and Laura Trott and Giorgia Bronzini respectively – will compete.
One domestic team, believed to be Matrix-Vulpine, are also scheduled to start.
The Women's Tour 2014: stages
Stage one: Oundle to Northampton, May 7
Stage two: Hinckley to Bedford, May 8
Stage three: Felixstowe to Clacton, May 9
Stage four: Cheshunt to Welwyn Garden City, May 10
Stage five: Harwich to Bury St Edmunds, May 11
Women's Tour in "good shape" as sponsorship search continues
SweetSpot director Guy Elliot tells CW he is "pleased" with how the race is looking five months out
Women's Tour start venue confirmed: Oundle, Northamptonshire
Inaugural British Women's Tour will kick off in May 2014 in Oundle, Northamptonshire and visit Hinckley and Bedford
The Women's Tour to start in Northamptonshire
Organisers SweetSpot announce early details of Stage One of the 2014 race
-
-
Tweets of the week: Evie Richards tries skateboarding, Alex Dowsett's puncture nightmare and more
Here's a selection of our favourite tweets from the last seven days
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Lezyne Macro Drive 1300XXL review
A quality option that offers up a greater battery life than the competition and produces a wide beam that helps keep your peripheral vision informed
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan •
-
Tour of Britain and Women’s Tour searching for new main sponsor to replace OVO Energy
The organisers of the Tour of Britain, the Women’s Tour and the Tour Series are on the hunt for a new headline sponsor to replace OVO Energy.
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Women's Tour expands with sixth day for 2019
British Cycling rejected a request for seven days in 2016 but the race has now grown to incorporate one more stage
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan •
-
Trott and Vos confirmed for opening Revolution Series round in London
Newly-crowned Commonwealth Games champion Laura Trott to come up against World and Olympic road race champion Marianne Vos
By Nigel Wynn •
-
Lucy Garner leads inexperienced Team GB in Women’s Tour
Double junior world champion Lucy Garner heads up Great Britain's young team at the inaugural Women's Tour
By Cycling Weekly •
-
Top field for inaugural Women's Tour
11 of the top 13 UCI-ranked teams confirmed for five-day British race.
By Nick Bull •
