Oxfordshire to get business and community boost from major women's cycle race
Oxfordshire is expecting economic and health benefits from hosting the prestigious OVO Energy Women’s Tour professional cycling race, which will pedal through the county on Wednesday, June 12.
A stage of the high-profile British cycling event has been secured for Oxfordshire by the county council and five districts in a three-year deal with the race organisers SweetSpot. They expect cycling fans to visit Oxfordshire to watch the race, generating additional business for restaurants, bars, hotels, B&Bs and shops.
In a comparable stage in last year’s race in Warwickshire, additional local expenditure linked directly to the event totalled £2m by around 100,000 spectators. Nearly two-thirds (63%) came from outside the county and 67% of spectators said they were inspired to cycle more often.
(Picture: Tour director Mick Bennett celebrates on a vintage bicycle at the Blenheim Palace launch)
The race will start in South Oxfordshire and end at one of the county’s most iconic locations, Blenheim Palace, with large crowds expected to cheer the winner over the line. Details of the exact route, which will pass through the Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire, will be revealed in coming weeks.
About 100 professional riders will weave their way through towns, villages and rural areas, inspiring local schools to organise themed sport and fitness lessons. Highlights of the race will also be screened on ITV4.
Families are expected to line the route to cheer on competitors, turning the event into an exciting community spectacle. Spectators will be encouraged to use healthy and environmentally-friendly transport to reach vantage points to watch the race.
'Enormous economic boost to our thriving communities'
Councillor Ian Hudspeth, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We’re delighted to welcome the Women’s Tour to Oxfordshire because it will bring an enormous economic boost to our thriving communities, inspiring more people to get their bikes out of the shed. Oxfordshire is the perfect backdrop for this race and we look forward to showing off the county at its best.”
Councillor Jane Murphy, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “This is wonderful news for residents and businesses in South Oxfordshire – the economic benefits will be huge. It will hopefully inspire lots of people to take part in healthy activities like cycling, but just as importantly it is going to be a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to watching it.”
(Pictured, Councillor Ian Hudspeth waves local cyclists on their way for a tour around the grounds of Blenheim during the Palace launch event. He's waving the Oxfordshire county flag)
Councillor Barry Wood, Leader of Cherwell District Council, said: “The Women’s Tour is going to be a thrilling display of endeavour and endurance by some of the world’s best athletes. The whole county will be there to cheer them on, as an inspiration to all of us to increase our activity levels. Lots of work will be ongoing between Oxfordshire councils and their partners in the coming years to make these three events a massive success and secure the benefits they will bring for the whole county.”
Councillor Louise Upton, Board Member for Healthy Oxford, Oxford City Council, said: “We have huge numbers of cycling fans and cycling clubs in Oxfordshire who will be thrilled to have elite cyclists racing through the county. When I contacted the Women’s Tour of Britain a year ago it was beyond even my most optimistic dreams that Oxfordshire would sign a three-year deal with them.
“I hope that this will also be an opportunity to get people, especially women and girls, to think about having a go on a bike and using them to go longer distances. It’s the best way to get round Oxford; but on a good bike, commuting in to Oxford from Kidlington and Abingdon is also possible – and with an electric bike it is easy!”
'It's the perfect package'
Councillor Jeanette Baker, Cabinet Member for Health, Leisure & Communities, West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “As a West Oxfordshire District Councillor and cabinet member with the portfolio for health, leisure and communities, this exciting OVO Energy Women's Tour Race is welcome on many levels.
“Promoting activity for women either competitively or leisure that culminates in good health and wellbeing, equality, creative community spirit to involve schools, various organisations and a boost to the tourism of the districts, is the perfect package. All this, wrapped in the enjoyment of watching the competitors travel through the counties, makes for a great family day out.”
Councillor Roger Cox, Leader of the Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “We’re all very pleased the Women’s Tour will be racing through the Vale – it’s a great way to promote the qualities of our district to a national and worldwide audience, and it is also a great event for us all to look forward to. You never know, it might inspire a young person from the Vale to become the next Victoria Pendleton or Bradley Wiggins.”
'The most incredible backdrop'
The OVO Energy Women’s Tour is Britain’s longest-running professional women’s race and part of the prestigious UCI Women’s World Tour series.
Thanks to title sponsor OVO Energy, the award-winning independent energy supplier, the event will once again back a prize fund equal to that of the men’s Tour of Britain for the second year running.
Commenting on the announcement, OVO Energy Women’s Tour Race Director Mick Bennett, said: “Oxfordshire is a historic and world-famous county; therefore, I am looking forward to the Tour visiting there over the coming years. To have our 2019 stage – the first ever to take place in Oxfordshire – finish in the grounds of the stunning Blenheim Palace will provide the most incredible backdrop; and leave our world-class field with a truly unforgettable memory and reinforce the prestige of the event."
The 2019 OVO Energy Women’s Tour will begin in Suffolk with Stage One from Beccles to Stowmarket on Monday, June 10. Further details of this year’s OVO Energy Women’s Tour, including the full race route and competing teams, will be released in the coming weeks.