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
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
-
-
Nairo Quintana to leave Arkéa-Samsic, six weeks after signing new contract
The Colombian is currently appealing his Tour de France disqualification
-
Alex Dowsett: Body Rocket's aero sensor system 'has the capacity to revolutionise cycling performance'
Body Rocket is yet another 'on bike' aero measurement system. We explain how it's different from the others
-
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
-
'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
-
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
-
