Northamptonshire will host the final stage of the 2016 Aviva Women’s Tour, with the proposed route starting in Northampton town centre and finishing in Kettering. The last stage of the five-day international women’s cycling event will take place in the county on Sunday 19th June and attract some of the world’s best female riders.
Last year’s race saw a massive 67,500 people line the streets to cheer on the cyclists and saw a £1 million boost to the local economy. The event also inspired 65% of spectators to cycle more often, according to an independent report.
Northampton and Kettering have both hosted the finish of the race before, and it is fitting that Northamptonshire will now have the chance to host the final stage of this year’s race, having hosted the first ever stage of the Aviva Women’s Tour in 2014. The final day will be an undulating stage taking in some new climbs areas of Northamptonshire that haven’t been visited with the previous two editions.
The return Aviva Women’s Tour is a fantastic opportunity to not only encourage more women and girls into sport but also raise the profile of Northamptonshire and encourage visitors to the area. People across the county are urged to come along and support the riders on what is sure to be a fantastic day and, hopefully, the crowds will be inspired to get cycling too!
Northamptonshire rider Hannah Barnes, who will compete as part of Canyon SRAM Racing team, finds it a real treat that her friends and family can come and watch, and she finds it a privilege to be able to race along roads she trains on.
Northamptonshire County Council has also agreed with SweetSpot that a stage of the Aviva Women’s Tour will be held in the county next year. As part of the agreement, SweetSpot will also hold a mass-participation cycle event in the county this year and next year to encourage people, in particular women and families, to become more active and get cycling.
For more information about the Aviva Women’s Tour Northamptonshire stage and about cycling in the county, visit www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/womenstour
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