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.
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