The Boroughs of Broxbourne and Stevenage will again welcome the world’s top cyclists this summer, as Waltham Cross and Stevenage plays host to the Friends Life Women’s Tour on Saturday 20 June 2015.

And joining councillors and dignitaries to mark the occasion was local rider Bethany Hayward of the Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International team and cyclo-cross World Championship medallist Helen Wyman, who raced in the 2014 Friends Life Women’s Tour.

The duo spent the morning in Waltham Cross in Broxbourne, before moving on to Stevenage in the afternoon.

Among those who could be racing again this June is Cheshunt’s own, double Olympic Champion Laura Trott, now riding for the Matrix Fitness cycling team of Helen Wyman.

Stage Four will start from the High Street in Waltham Cross (close to the Eleanor Cross memorial), finishing 102-kilometres, 63.4-miles, later on Stevenage’s High Street. Along the way riders will pass through Cheshunt Old Pond, Wormley, Turnford and Broxbourne and end up in Hoddesdon town centre. The riders will then make their way to Stevenage.

Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, Councillor Dee Hart said “It was fantastic to welcome the first ever Friends Life Women’s Tour to Broxbourne last year. We’re proud to be supporting this unique event again and I hope even more of our residents come out to show their support and be inspired. I wish everyone participating the best of luck.”

Former resident and reigning British Champion, Laura Trott said “It was a really special moment for me last year to have the Women’s Tour visit my home town and being able to race in front of a home crowd all cheering me was an amazing experience.  I’m really excited the race will be back again in 2015 and am looking forward to seeing even more spectators out lining the roadside.”

Starting at 10am, Stage Four is expected to finish in Stevenage at around 1.15pm, with highlights of the race being shown on ITV4 that evening, with a repeat the following morning.

Stevenage Borough Council leader, Councillor Sharon Taylor said, “Stevenage has a great sporting and cycling heritage and I’m pleased that we’re hosting Stage Four of the Friends Life Women’s Tour. It’ll be great to see so many residents, fans and fellow cycling enthusiasts cheering the women on as they come through our town on 20 June.”

16 teams from nine different countries will take part in the 2015 Friends Life Women’s Tour, including 12 of the world’s top 15 ranked teams. Among them are world number one team Rabo Liv, the Boels Dolmans teams of Lizzie Armitstead and the national teams of Germany and the United States.

Members of the public are encouraged to come out, line the route and support the cyclists.

For further information on the Start in Waltham Cross, residents can visit the Borough’s website here.

To find out more about the Stevenage finish, visit the council’s website here.