The Women's Tour arrives in Essex
Some of the world's best cyclists will be competing in our region from today.
Last updated 7th Oct 2021
Some of the world's best cyclists will be competing in Essex over the next two days as the Women's Tour arrives in the county.
The fourth stage from Shoeburyness to Southend-on-Sea is taking place today.
Riders will set off from East Beach, then out into the rural roads of Essex before reaching the finish line along the seafront in Westcliff.
Demi Vollering is in the lead after a strong day in Atherton yesterday.
She holds a gap of over a minute on Juliette Labous.
Vollering had this to stay after her race on Wednesday: "The start was uphill so I knew I could win it or I could lose it there if I didn’t go full gas.”
“The first 4km I went all out and the middle part was the hardest part. There was a lot of headwind after the first half of the time trial, which made it really hard. The last part again full gas, everything out.”
The penultimate leg of the competition will also be hosted by Essex tomorrow - from Colchester to Clacton.
Riders will be welcomed to Colchester for the first time in Women's Tour history, although the town is no stranger to cycling, previously hosting a Tour of Britain stage finish and four rounds of the Tour Series.
This is Clacton's third time hosting a stage finish for the Women's Tour, with Marianne Vos, the tour's first ever champion, secured her victory on the town's promenade at the inaugural event in 2014.
Rolling road closures will be in place around the race routes during the competition, with longer closures in force at the finish lines of each stage.
We'll be on the finish line in Clacton tomorrow to bring you the latest as it happens.