Stalwarts of the Women’s Tour since their creation in 2016, the Drops team will be racing on virtual roads this week LIVE on BBC Sport as Joss Lowden, Emily Meakin and April Tacey line-up for the ŠKODA V-Women’s Tour.

Looking ahead to the race, which gets underway at 19:00 BST on Wednesday 17 June, Frankie Hall who will be on DS duties for Drops said;

“It’s a really exciting event for me, learning more about the eRacing world but also being involved in one of my dream races! I’m looking forward to seeing how we fair with such a strong team!”

Winner of the 2019 South Coast Classic and Bronze medallist in the mixed team time trial at the World Championships Joss Lowden lines up for the team, having missed last year’s Women’s Tour due to inury, saying:

“We are so lucky to have the opportunity to race the Women’s Tour and ride together as a team. It’s going to be a really fun few days of racing!”

Alongside Lowden will be another strong time trialist in Staffordshire’s Emily Meakin, who is current National 25 Mile TT champion.

“As a British rider it’s a huge goal to ride the Women’s Tour, and this would have been my first year! So with the global pandemic stopping play, I’m super excited and grateful that ŠKODA and RGT Cycling have given us the chance to still race! It brings together not only our team, but the entire cycling community! I can’t wait to get racing!”

Completing the Drops line up will be one of the youngest members of their squad in 19 year old April Tacey, the reigning East Midlands Road Race champion, who like Meakin is in her first year with the team.

“I’m really looking forward to the first virtual Women’s Tour. I haven’t ridden the Women’s Tour before so it will be a new experience for me on the RGT virtual racing platform. I feel we have a strong team for this event.”

Find out more about the Drops team by clicking here.

You can keep up-to-date with all of the rider and team news for the ŠKODA V-Women’s Tour here.