Women's Tour to return once again to Suffolk and Essex
Our region will host the opening stage of the race this year
Last updated 8th Mar 2022
Britain's biggest and longest running international women's cycling stage race, the Women's Tour, is going to be returning to Suffolk and Essex this summer.
Event organisers have confirmed details of this year's race today to coincide with International Women's Day.
The race will begin at Colchester's Northern Gateway Sports Park for an opening leg through Suffolk and Essex before finishing on Bury St Edmunds' Angel Hill.
It will mark the cathedral town's third appearance in race history, although it will be the first finish there since Marianne Vos won the finale of the 2014 edition.
The Suffolk stage will take place on Monday 6th June, following the long bank holiday to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
Cllr Andrew Reid, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Public Health, Public Protection and Communities, said: “The Women’s Tour has become a staple of Suffolk’s Sporting calendar and we are proud to welcome the race back to Suffolk this year.
“Suffolk will play host to stage one of the race, finishing in Bury St Edmunds once again, as it did the first time the Women’s Tour came to Suffolk, back in 2014.
“The race always provides a great opportunity for communities to come together and celebrate all that our county has to offer, whilst inspiring people to become more physically active.”
Cllr Paul Dundas, Leader of Colchester Borough Council, said: “It’s fantastic news that Colchester is to host the Grand Depart for this global sporting event which comes to our borough for a second year.
"We look forward to welcoming residents and visitors to the town to cheer on the riders and hopefully be inspired to get cycling for themselves.
"In 2021, nearly 50,000 spectators from outside Suffolk and Essex came to our region to enjoy the Women’s Tour and we look forward to showcasing this international competition once again to attract even more visitors to the region.”
Sam Good, Business Improvement District Manager, Our Colchester, said: “It was a real coup for Colchester to host the Women's Tour in 2021, a year that saw its fair share of challenges for the business community.
"The buzz that was created both locally and nationally, had a really positive impact on Colchester as a whole and we look forward to its very welcome return this summer. Events like this, which bring people and businesses together, help instil a feeling of pride in the town and showcase to residents, visitors, and workers the many exciting things happening in Colchester."
Tunde Williams, Colchester Sports Park Manager, added; “The Women’s Tour gave us a perfect opportunity to showcase Colchester Sports Park’s newly opened, one mile cycle track.
"To see this first-class cycling facility being used by the world’s most elite riders was a real honour and, judging by the increased interest for the cycle track, pump track, learn to ride facility and courses, it has been an inspiration to many budding cyclists across the borough. We look forward to building on this success this year.”
Mick Bennett, Women’s Tour race director, said: “Suffolk and Bury St Edmunds have a special place in Women’s Tour history so we’re thrilled that they will feature in this year’s opening stage, which, given the country-wide weekend of celebrations planned, will be the grandest Grand Départ we’ve ever had.
"We’re looking forward to taking the race into parts of Suffolk that we’ve not visited for many years as the route heads into the county from Colchester, before a long-awaited return to Bury St Edmunds for the stage finish, scene of an unforgettable victory for Marianne Vos in 2014.”
Details of the route of the opening stage from Colchester to Bury St Edmunds, which will pass through Mid Suffolk, Babergh, and West Suffolk, will follow in due course.