Stage six preview: Carmarthen to Pembrey Country Park
3 mins read time
14 Jun 2019
After five intense days of racing, the 2019 OVO Energy Women’s Tour champion will be crowned in Carmarthenshire, Wales, on Saturday as the county hosts the finale of this year’s event.
After five intense days of racing, the 2019 OVO Energy Women’s Tour champion will be crowned in Carmarthenshire, Wales, on Saturday as the county hosts the finale of this year’s event.
It looks like we’re set for a showdown between 2016 winner Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) and the rider who succeeded her, Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM Racing), in the fight for the OVO Energy green jersey.
The duo are separated by just one second on general classification, although the finish on Pembrey County Park’s National Cycle Circuit appears to suit the British rider more than her Polish rival.
Deignan – a former track world champion – should also feel at home at the stage start in Carmarthen: riders will complete nearly two laps of the town’s outdoor velodrome as part of the ceremonial start to begin the day.
Once again, racegoers will be able to make it to both the stage start and the finish, although many are expected to line the route of the two SKODA Queen of the Mountains climbs of Bethlehem Hill (which featured in last year’s OVO Energy Tour of Britain) and Black Mountain. The stage’s Eisberg sprints come at Tally and Penygroes.
Stage route and profile
Key timings
| Stage feature | Estimated time of arrival |
| Start – The Velodrome, Carmarthen | 10:00 |
| Eisberg sprint – Talley | 11:05 |
| SKODA Queen of the Mountains climb – Bethlehem Hill | 11:37 |
| SKODA Queen of the Mountains climb – Black Mountain | 12:03 |
| Eisberg sprint – Penygroes | 12:39 |
| Finish – Pembrey Country Park, Pembrey | 13:33 |
Click here to explore and download the full stage six timetable
Weather forecast
As it stands we’re on for a second day of dry weather in Wales!
Start: 13°C, sunny intervals, cloudy,
Middle of the race: 14°C, sunny intervals, cloudy,
Finish: 14°C, sunny intervals, cloudy,
Jersey leaders
OVO Energy green jersey Lizzie Deignan (Great Britain) Trek-Segafredo
Breast Cancer Care points jersey Lizzie Deignan (Great Britain) Trek-Segafredo
SKODA Queen of the Mountains jersey Kasia Niewiadoma (Poland) Canyon//SRAM Racing
Eisberg sprints jersey Coryn Rivera (USA) Team Sunweb
HSBC UK | British Cycling best British rider jersey Lizzie Deignan (Great Britain) Trek-Segafredo
Click here for full standings after stage five
Click here for a rider list after stage five
Instant Expert
The OVO Energy Women’s Tour expert says of stage six:
“Who needs a ceremonial finish to a stage race? The battle to win the OVO Energy Women’s Tour will go down to the wire in Carmarthenshire on Saturday, as professional cycle racing returns to the county nine months after it hosted the OVO Energy Tour of Britain.
“While not as hard as Friday’s stage in Pembrey, the terrain is still undulating throughout, meaning Lizzie Deignan and Kasia Niewiadoma will have to perform well if they are to claim overall victory. There’s an uncategorised climb near Carway, just 16 kilometres from the finish line, on which the climbing stars may decide to attack.
“It’s another stage that showcases Britain’s fantastic cycling infrastructure: it begins with a lap of the Carmarthen Velodrome and ends on Pembrey County Park’s cycle circuit. Whoever comes out of the penultimate, swooping corner approaching the finish line with 200 metres remaining will give themselves a great chance to win the stage.
“The day is also good for local spectators: as it notably passes through Llandeilo, Port Talbot and Pontyberem en route to the finish.”
Downloads and links
Click here to visit the stage six hub | Click here to explore the stage six timetable
