Eleven of the top 13 women's teams will compete in this May's inaugural Women's Tour, race organiser SweetSpot confirmed today.
The participation of reigning Olympic and world road race champion Marianne Vos had previously been confirmed, but this announcement will further bolster the field strength of the five-day event.
Boels-Dolmans, Lotto-Belisol, Estadio de Mexico Faren and UnitedHealthcare - the teams of Britons Lizzie Armitstead, Emma Trott, Emma Pooley, Lucy Martin, Sharon Laws and Hannah Barnes - are all competing. The Wiggle-Honda squad of Laura Trott, Dani King, Jo Rowsell and Elinor Barker will also be in action.
Former double world junior road race champion Lucy Garner will race for a young GB team in the event, as her trade squad Giant-Shimano are not taking part.
Domestic team Matrix-Vulpine, managed by Stef Wyman and led by his wife Helen, also earned an invite to the event.
"We are thrilled to be able to bring such a world-class field of teams to ride in the first ever Women's Tour”, said event director Guy Elliott.
"The race has attracted a wonderful field of elite riders from all over the world, which will be one of the strongest fields ever assembled for an elite women's international race, and a route which will feature some of the most beautiful roads, villages, towns and countryside in Great Britain.”
This year's race begins in Oundle on May 7.
Women’s Tour 2014: The teams
Rabo Liv (Ned)
Orica-AIS (Aus)
Boels-Dolmans (Ned)
Specialized-Lululemon (Ned)
Wiggle-Honda (GBr)
Hitec Products (Nor)
Rusvelo (Rus)*
Astana Bepink (Ita)
Estadio de Mexico Faren (Mex)
Lotto-Belisol (Bel)
Optum P/B Kelly Benefit Strategies (USA)
Bizkaia-Durango (Esp)*
UnitedHealthcare (USA)
Matrix-Vulpine (GBr)
Netherlands national team
Great Britain national team
*Pending Visa confirmation.
Women's Tour 2014: The stages
Stage one, Wednesday May 7
Oundle to Northampton
Stage two, Thursday May 8
Hinckley to Bedford
Stage three, Friday May 9
Felixstowe to Clacton-on-Sea
Stage four, Saturday May 10
Cheshunt to Welwyn Garden City
Stage five, Sunday May 11
Harwich to Bury St. Edmunds
-
-
British men just miss out on Madison medal as Mørkøv gets gold for Denmark on final day of Roubaix Track Worlds
Katie Archibald also took silver in the points race, her fourth medal of these Championships
By Jonny Long •
-
Jan Ullrich undertakes longest ride 'since Milan - San Remo 1997' at Mallorca Gran Fondo
The German says he has been training hard over the past year after recovering from a troubled period
By Jonny Long •
-
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 •
-
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 •
-
Marianne Vos confirmed for the Women's Tour
Current Olympic and world road race champion to headline inaugural event
By Nick Bull •
