The world’s top female cyclists will race from
Oundle to Kett ering, as Northamptonshire plays
host to the 138-kilometre, 86-mile, third stage
of the Friends Life Women’s Tour on Friday
19th June. Starti ng at 10am from Oundle, this
stage is expected to fi nish in Kett ering at around
2.15pm, with highlights of the race being
shown on ITV4 that evening, with a repeat the
following morning. A map of the full route can
be seen on page 9.

Stage One of the Friends Life Women’s Tour
takes place on Wednesday 17th June, heading
from Bury St Edmunds to Aldeburgh on the
Suff olk Coast in a 110-kilometre opening stage,
before the second stage from Braintree to
Clacton. Subsequent stages then take the race
to Hertf ordshire and Buckinghamshire and the
Chilterns, before the overall fi nish in Hemel
Hempstead on Sunday 21st June.

This world-class event in our region off ers a
wonderful opportunity to bring people together
and inspire them to think about their own
health and fi tness and hopefully get cycling too.
Last year, it was esti mated that more than 600
people took up cycling as a result of led cycle
rides organised as part of the Women’s Tour,
and eleven schools have set up new cycling
clubs.It is also a chance for us to generate some
excitement in our communiti es and support this
incredible event. Last year a massive 55,000
people lined the route from the inaugural ride
from Oundle to Northampton to cheer on the
cyclists. Parish councils are invited to inspire
their communiti es to get involved, either by
encouraging people to turn out on the day
to watch the race or by organising a special
event in your village to celebrate the Women’s
Tour. Kett ering Council, for example, is inviti ng
people to donate their unwanted bikes which
will be painted pink and displayed throughout
the borough in the run-up to the race to help
promote the event. Local schoolchildren could
be challenged to design banners to wave as
the cyclists ride pass their school, or organise a
cycling-themed village fête to encourage more
people to get on their bikes.

In additi on to celebrati ng the start of Stage
Three, Oundle is also arranging a series of events
linked to the Tour, including a Bike & Hike Picnic
& Party on Sunday 7th June at Oundle Recreati on
Ground, a Tour Warm-Up Party on Thursday 18th
June at the town centre, and a Girl-Rilla Ride at
Oundle Wharf on Sunday 28th June.

Whatever you decide to do, Northamptonshire
County Council will be happy to publicise it on
their website www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/
womenstour, where you can also fi nd more
details of events in connecti on with Friends Life
Women’s Tour.

 

 

 Northamptonshire To Host Longest Stage of 2015 Race

Northamptonshire To Host Longest Stage of 2015 Race