Line-up announced for first ever Women’s Tour de Yorkshire

Paralympic champion Dame Sarah Storey and Olympic cyclist Joanna Rowsell will ride for the Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International team.

Yorkshire-born riders Jessie Walker and Penny Rowson will feature for Matrix Fitness, while road and track cyclist Grace Garner will ride the Giordana Triton Team.

National circuit race champion Eileen Roe will race for the Wiggle Honda Team.

The women’s race will take place on Saturday, May 2 across four 20km laps of a circuit in York.

President of British Cycling Bob Howden said: “For the first edition of a race this is an impressive line-up.

“The Women’s Tour de Yorkshire creates a brand new race for domestic riders to pit themselves against Olympians and Paralympians and we look forward to seeing the race grow and develop.”

City of York Council chief executive Kersten England will award the podium prizes.

In total 10 podium prizes will be given out with £1,000 being awarded to the overall winner.

Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Gary Verity said: “After the Grand Départ of the Tour de France we promised to do all we can to promote women in cycling in Yorkshire and the first ever women’s Tour de Yorkshire is honouring that promise.

“This quality of riders for this first ever women’s race proves the interest and excitement out there and with these household names riding. We know it is going to be a superb and inspiring event.”