The Women’s Tour 2019: everything you need to know
The British race enjoys an extra day in 2019 - with six stages, starting on Monday June 10.
The international women’s peloton is speeding its way across the UK in June for the sixth edition of the Ovo Energy Women’s Tour.
The Women’s Tour of 2019 takes place from June 10-15 – and will be comprised of six stages, an extra day on previous editions.
Since 2018, the prize fund has been equal to that of the men’s Tour of Britain, increasing from €35,000 (£31,000) to €90,000 (£80,000).
The race was awarded UCI Women’s WorldTour status in 2016, meaning that it is part of the top-level series of international races. All of the top women’s teams will therefore take part.
The last edition of the race was won by Coryn Rivera (Sunweb), who picked up the points jersey as well for her fast finishes and results at intermediate sprints.
This year, 15 of the top UCI Women’s World Tour teams are competing, alongside British squad Trek Drops.
British crowds will no doubt watch in anticipation as former world champion Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) pins on a number, continuing her charge towards the Yorkshire world championships after the birth of her first child.
Former winner Marianne Vos (CCC-Liv) is also expected to start, as is reigning champion Rivera. Other names we expect to see dotted throughout the start list include 2017 winner Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM), as well as everyone’s favourite post-race interview giver, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Bigla Pro Cycling), fresh from several spring classic podiums.
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Women’s Tour 2019 route and where to watch
The Women’s Tour 2019 route
The Women’s Tour route has been progressively harder and hillier every year, and 2019 is no exception.
The race kicks off in Suffolk, with a 157.6 km stage from Beccles to Stowmarket.
The following day, audiences will enjoy a particularly spectator friendly stage, with a 62.5km criterium style event at Kent’s Cyclopark. The local cycling hub and popular circuit covers 2.5km, meaning riders will complete 25 laps.
Oxfordshire’s stage three will finish at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Blenheim Palace, with a start in Henley-on-Thames.
The following day, fans can enjoy a hilltop finish in Burton Dassett Country Park, at the end of the 158.9km stage from Warwick to Burton Dassett Country Park.
Stage five will be the hilliest, and we can expect a shake up in the GC. The race moves to Wales on Friday June 14, with a 140km stage from Llandrindod Wells and Builth Wells. The stage accumulates 2,2000 metres of climbing in total.
The final day of racing sees the peloton attack undulating terrain as the travel from Carmarthen to Pembrey Country Park, over 126km.
| Stage one, Monday June 10 | Beccles to Stowmarket | 157.6km |
| Stage two, Tuesday June 11 | The Kent Cyclopark, Gravesend Stage | 62.5km |
| Stage three, Wednesday June 12 | Henley-on-Thames to Blenheim Palace | 145.1km |
| Stage four, Thursday June 13 | Warwick to Burton Dassett Country Park | 158.9km |
| Stage five, Friday June 14 | Llandrindod Wells to Builth Wells | 140km |
| Stage six, Saturday June 15 | Carmarthen to Pembrey Country Park | 126km |
Women’s Tour 2019 live TV
ITV4 is the place to see the action – with a nightly highlights show presented by Rebecca Charlton, Marty McDonald and retired track and road rider Joanna Rowsell Shand.
Each hour long highlight show will be repeated the following morning, also on ITV4.
| STAGE | ITV4 SCHEDULE | ITV4 REPEAT SCHEDULE |
| Stage one: Beccles to Stowmarket | Monday 10 June 20:00 | Tuesday 11 June 06:25 |
| Stage two: Kent Cyclopark | Tuesday 11 June 20:00 | Wednesday 12 June 06:25 |
| Stage three: Henley-on-Thames to Bleheim Palace | Wednesday 12 June 20:00 | Thursday 13 June 06:25 |
| Stage four: Warwick to Burton Dassett | Thursday 13 June 20:00 | Friday 14 June 06:25 |
| Stage five: Llandrindod Wells to Builth Wells | Friday 14 June 20:00 | TBC |
| Stage six: Carmarthen to Pembrey | Saturday 15 June 20:00 | TBC |
Women’s Tour 2019 start list
British crowds will no doubt watch in anticipation as former world champion Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) pins on a number, continuing her charge towards the Yorkshire world championships after the birth of her first child.
Former winner Marianne Vos (CCC-Liv) is also down to start, and she’s already won once on British soil this year – at the Tour de Yorkshire. She brings with her Ashleigh Moolman, whose expert climbing saw her clinch second overall at the Giro Rosa in 2018.
From Canyon-SRAM, we’ll have 2017 winner Kasia Niewiadoma, who broke away on the first stage of her winning edition – accruing an advantage that was enough to secure overall victory. She’s got former stage winner Hannah Barnes by her side, as well as Alexis Ryan – whose Classics performances might lend her skillset well to punchy UK roads.
We can’t ignore reigning champion Coryn Rivera (Sunweb). The slight sprinter found last year’s course played to her strengths, but she’ll have a fight on her hands to defend her title.
When it comes to fast finishes, Rivera will be competing with the likes of Jolien D’Hoore (Boels-Dolmans), Chloe Hosking (Alé Cipollini) and Lisa Brennauer (WNT).
Team Sunweb
1 RIVERA Coryn
2 ANDERSEN Susanne
3 KIRCHMANN Leah
4 LIPPERT Liane
5 MACKAIJ Floortje
6 SOEK Julia
CCC – Liv
11 VOS Marianne
12 DEMEY Valerie
13 KOREVAAR Jeanne
14 MARKUS Riejanne
15 MOOLMAN Ashleigh
16 ROOIJAKKERS Pauliena
Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team
21 BLAAK Chantal
22 CANUEL Karol-Ann
23 D’HOORE Jolien
24 DIDERIKSEN Amalie
25 MAJERUS Christine
26 PIETERS Amy
Canyon SRAM Racing
31 NIEWIADOMA Katarzyna
32 AMIALIUSIK Alena
33 BARNES Hannah
34 CECCHINI Elena
35 CROMWELL Tiffany
36 RYAN Alexis
Alé Cipollini
41 HOSKING Chloe
42 KASPER Romy
43 VAN ‘T GELOOF Marjolein
44 QUAGLIOTTO Nadia
45 YONAMINE Eri
46 TREVISI Anna
Mitchelton-Scott
51 ROY Sarah
52 ALLEN Jessica
53 BROWN Grace
54 ELVIN Gracie
55 MANLY Alexandra
56 TENNIGLO Moniek
Bigla Pro Cycling
61 BANKS Elizabeth
62 ALZINI Martina
63 CHABBEY Elise
64 HANSELMANN Nicole
65 LETH Julie
66 THOMAS Leah
FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope
72 BECKER Charlotte
73 DUVAL Eugénie
74 GROSSETETE Maelle
75 KITCHEN Lauren
76 RICHIOUD Greta
Drops
81 CHRISTIAN Anna
82 DICKINSON Eleanor
83 HOLDEN Elizabeth
84 LLOYD Manon
85 PARKINSON Abby-Mae
86 PAYTON Hannah
Team Virtu Cycling
91 BASTIANELLI Marta
92 GUARISCHI Barbara
93 AALERUD Katrine
94 BERTIZZOLO Sofia
95 NEYLAN Rachel
96 PENTON Sara
WNT-Rotor Pro Cycling
101 BRENNAUER Lisa
102 ENSING Janneke
103 HAMMES Kathrin
104 MAGNALDI Erica
105 RIJKES Sarah
106 SANTESTEBAN Ane
Valcar Cylance Cycling
111 ARZUFFI Alice Maria
112 CAVALLI Marta
113 CONFALONIERI Maria Giulia
114 VIGILIA Alessia
115 MUCCIOLI Dalia
116 PALADIN Asja
Trek-Segafredo Women
121 DEIGNAN Elizabeth
122 VAN TWISK Abigail
123 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa
124 PLICHTA Anna
125 VAN DIJK Ellen
126 WORRACK Trixi
Movistar Team
131 BIANNIC Aude
132 FOURNIER Roxane
133 GONZÁLEZ Alicia
134 GUTIÉRREZ Sheyla
135 JASINSKA Małgorzata
136 PATIÑO Paula
Team TIBCO – SVB
141 COBB Alice
142 CHAPMAN Brodie
143 JACKSON Alison
144 KESSLER Nina
145 MALSEED Shannon
146 SLIK Rozanne
Parkhotel Valkenburg
151 DE BOER Sophie
152 DE GAST Belle
153 KNETEMANN Roxane
154 MARKUS Femke
155 VAN VEEN Esther
156 VOLLERING Demi
Women’s Tour 2019 jerseys
There will be five classifications available to compete for in 2019.
The star prize at the Women’s Tour is the Green jersey, awarded to the leader of the General Classification. In 2018, this went to Coryn Rivera (Sunwb).
Other honours include the Points jersey, with points going to the top 15 – this went to Marianne Vos (WaowDeals) in 2018. The Sprints jersey celebrates the leader of the intermediate sprints, which was also awarded to Rivera in the last edition.
The Queen of the Mountains jersey is awarded to the rider who takes the most points on designated climbs – and Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5) won this in 2018.
The Best British rider gets a jersey to show their status, 2018’s victor was Dani Rowe (WaowDeals), whose team was also awarded the best team status.
Women’s Tour: previous winners
2018 Coryn Rivera (USA) Sunweb
2017 Kasia Niewiadoma (Poland) WM3 Pro Cycling
2016 Lizzie Deignan (Great Britain) Boels-Dolmans
2015 Lisa Brennauer (Germany) Velocio-SRAM
2014 Marianne Vos (Netherlands) Rabo-Liv