Residents between Chipping Norton, Carterton, Faringdon, Didcot and Oxford will be able to cheer on the world’s best riders when the Women’s Tour comes to Oxfordshire on Saturday 11 June, the full route of which has today been unveiled.

Supported by Oxfordshire County Council, alongside the county’s city and district councils, Oxfordshire will host the UK’s most prestigious international women’s race for the third time in as many editions on stage six.

The 145-kilometre (90-mile) route will pass through many picture-postcard locations, including taking in one of Britain’s most loved areas, the Cotswolds. It will head as far north as Milcombe – a short distance from Banbury where Italian rider Marta Bastianelli triumphed in the 2021 race – before changing course and travelling south through West Oxfordshire towards an intermediate sprint near RAF Brize Norton in Carterton.

Stage six will also feature Faringdon – which memorably turned pink when the race visited in 2019 – and Didcot in the Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire districts respectively.

Riders will cross the River Thames using the Folly Bridge as the race enters Oxford from its south side. In what promises to be a truly stunning end to the 2022 race, the stage will finish on the historic St Giles’.

Women's Tour Oxfordshire stage six route

Oxfordshire is expecting economic and health benefits from hosting the prestigious event, with cycling fans expected to visit the county to watch the race, generating additional business for restaurants, bars, hotels, B&Bs and shops.

Over 100 professional riders will weave their way through towns, villages and rural areas, and it is hoped that local schools will be inspiring to organise themed sport and fitness lessons.

Families are expected to line the route to cheer on competitors, turning the event into an exciting community spectacle. Spectators will be encouraged to use healthy and environmentally friendly transport to reach vantage points to watch the race.

About the 2022 Women’s Tour

This year’s Women’s Tour will begin with a Grand Départ jointly hosted by Colchester and Suffolk (Monday 6 June), and feature its first-ever visit to Gloucestershire and two Welsh stages – including a summit finish atop Black Mountain in Carmarthenshire – before culminating in Oxfordshire on Saturday 11 June.

Further details of all of the stages 2022 Women’s Tour – including full stage timetables, interactive maps, and competing riders – will be published shortly.

Highlights of this year’s race will once again be shown on ITV4 in the UK, and around the world via Eurosport and GCN. Women’s Tour organisers SweetSpot continue to work on securing the funding required to broadcast the event live. Visit sweetspotgroup.co.uk/partnerships for more information.

While spectators can watch all the action by the roadside for free, race day hospitality packages offer guaranteed prime views of stage starts and finishes, complete with fine dining experiences. Visit sportsbreaks.com/Cycling for more information.