The OVO Energy Women’s Tour’s fourth visit to Warwickshire in as many years will be celebrated with Burton Dassett Country Park hosting the first hill-top finish in race history on Thursday 13 June.

Stage four of Britain’s most prestigious women’s race around Shakespeare’s Country will take on a feel similar to that of the Belgian one-day spring classics, as the world’s best riders tackle two laps of a challenging 12.6-kilometre circuit to culminate a spectator-friendly day of racing that begins in the historic town of Warwick.

Whereas the Women’s Tour’s three previous visits to the county – raced into Stratford-upon-Avon (2016) and Royal Leamington Spa (2017 and 2018) – have ended in sprint finishes, this year’s 158.9-kilometre test promises to play a crucial part in deciding who will win the OVO Energy green jersey.

The stage route

Upon leaving Warwick, the race’s star-studded field will pass through the University of Warwick, Kenilworth, Meriden (home to the National Cyclists’ Memorial), Bedworth and Wellesbourne as it gears up for what promises to be an unpredictable finale.

Riders will climb Sun Rising Hill near Edge Hill before beginning the first of two full loops of a clockwise finishing circuit around Burton Dassett and Farnborough. Aside from the race’s London circuit race in 2017, our Warwickshire finale represents the most times spectators will see the riders cross through the finish line mid-race during a single stage.

Featuring a gradient of 15% in places, and averaging 4.9%, the 1.7-kilometre climb through Burton Dassett Country Park has split the peloton into several groups during its previous inclusions in the race. The climb was also a SKODA King of the Mountains ascent in last year’s OVO Energy Tour of Britain. In total, stage four of this year’s OVO Energy Women’s Tour includes 1,513m of climbing.

Burton Dassett Women's Tour

Fans aplenty watched the OVO Energy Tour of Britain on Burton Dassett in September 2018.

Reaction to today’s news

Mick Bennett, OVO Energy Women’s Tour race director, said:“The support for the OVO Energy Women’s Tour in Warwickshire has been truly unforgettable and is something that riders have commented on year after year. Therefore, I’m delighted to announce that we’ll be returning to the county this June and this year’s stage promises to be even more exciting and unpredictable than our incredible previous visits.

“Historic Warwick will put on a spectacular show as it hosts the start while the climb through the picturesque Burton Dassett Country Park will prove a real test for our many competing Olympic, world and national champions!” 

Chief Executive of Warwickshire County Council, Monica Fogarty, added: “I am thrilled that Warwickshire will once again be hosting a stage of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour. As well as being fantastic entertainment for spectators, this event is of huge economic benefit to the region.

“It’s an opportunity for local businesses along the route to celebrate and embrace cycling as the race comes past their front door, as well as for others to maximise on business opportunities from increased customers and visitors. 

“As in previous years, we are working to ensure that spectators can watch the race from multiple spots throughout the day.  Each year, the response from local people is phenomenal, with businesses and schools coming out to watch, all adding to the great atmosphere. This year we hope even more people will support and enjoy this fabulous race which is watched by viewers across the planet.”

Facts and figures

The OVO Energy Women’s Tour’s visit to Warwickshire in June 2018 provided a boost to the local economy, with an incredible 42 per cent – around £860,000 – of the event’s £2 million net spend spent by cycling fans in either Atherstone (where the county’s stage started) or in and around the Royal Leamington Spa finish.

This year’s stage is presented by Warwickshire County Council, with support from North Warwickshire Borough Council, Warwick District Council and Stratford on Avon District Council.

Downloads and links

Click here to visit the stage four page | Click here to watch highlights from the 2018 Warwickshire stage