Women’s Tour of Scotland to power through Cupar

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This August, around 20 of the world’s leading elite women’s cycling teams will compete in the inaugural Women’s Tour of Scotland – and they will be battling in Cupar on Friday 9th August.

The Tour – announced by Tour Ambassador, Olympian, Commonwealth Games, World and Multiple European Champion, Katie Archibald MBE – starts from Dundee’s Slessor Gardens at 12:15 on the Friday before rolling into Fife and heading to Cupar.

At 20.8 km into the Tour, Cupar’s town centre will see the first sprint stage …

Seasoned Race Director, Alan Rushton described the route saying: ‘The official start will depart from Dundee’s iconic waterfront area and the 103km stage will take in the Tay Road Bridge and travel down through the Kingdom of Fife to finish in Pittencrief Park, Dunfermline. Stage Two is a 139.4km route departing on Saturday 10th August 2019 from George Square, Glasgow, sweeping through The Trossachs and finishing in the centre of Perth. The final stage of the inaugural Women’s Tour of Scotland will start and finish in the beautiful setting of Holyrood Park, the famous Royal Park in central Edinburgh. The 118.3km stage will include three Queen of the Mountain climbs which will make the final 18kms of the Tour decisive.‘

Supported by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s events directorate, the three-day, three stage 350km Tour runs between the Friday and Sunday and, it is hoped, will become a long-term fixture in the events’ calendar in what is seen as a welcome addition to the international calendar of the worldwide governing body for cycling, the UCI.

Katie comments: “This is a great route for a race and the sheer calibre of teams and riders who will be racing the first Women’s Tour of Scotland is really exciting – I’m proud to be involved with the Tour and I really hope more women and girls will be inspired to start cycling as a result.‘

Scotland’s Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, Mr Joe Fitzpatrick MSP adds: “Scotland has a long and proud history of bringing major sporting events to a worldwide audience. We are a nation that celebrates our diversity and equality so I am delighted that we are hosting the inaugural Women’s Tour of Scotland. With the Cycling World Championships coming to Scotland in 2023 this event adds to our drive to become one of Europe’s top cycling nations with cycling firmly embedded across Scotland as the favoured way to travel to school and work, as an enjoyable leisure activity and an efficient way to improve health.‘

Highlighting the event’s importance, Tour Ambassador Eileen Roe, Former British National Circuit Race Champion from High Valleyfield, Fife comments: ‘When I first began racing there were hardly any girls cycling, I would be racing against the boys. To have a race like this will mean young girls can be inspired to get out on a bike‘.

As part of the Tour’s legacy and development programme, alongside the professional race, each start and finish will feature family activation zones for fans, spectators, local residents, cycling clubs, visitors and families to get involved and be inspired to ride. The inaugural Women’s Tour of Scotland will culminate in a free family day at Holyrood Park in Edinburgh to be enjoyed by all.

 

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We will be sharing more on our social media channels before and at the event.

You can stay up to date with the latest Tour news on social using the tag @womenstourscot

 

Thanks for reading.