Partners and stakeholders of the Suffolk stage of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour joined local cyclists and media on Monday to sample the final 30 kilometres of opening stage of the 2019 race.

A group of 22 cyclists, escorted by a pair of motorcycle outriders from Suffolk Constabulary, took on a section from Bury St Edmunds to Stowmarket that the world’s top riders will race over in three weeks’ time.

Representatives from all of the stakeholders supporting stage one took part in the ride, including Suffolk County Council, East Suffolk Council, West Suffolk Council and Mid Suffolk Council, plus ambassadors from Breeze, British Cycling’s #OneInAMillion campaign to get one million more women cycling by 2020.

Passing through Nowton, Felsham and Rattlesden the group got to experience riding in a peloton and the route the professionals will take, including the SKODA Queen of the Mountains climb at Little Whelnetham.

The route also took the group through Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds, where Marianne Vos famously won the final stage and overall of the first-ever Women’s Tour race in 2014. Monday’s ride ended at Stowmarket Town Council offices, just beyond the stage one finish line on Ipswich Street.

Rider reaction

BBC Suffolk presenter Jon Wright gave his feedback on the ride…

Bury Free Press reporter Russell Claydon documented his day online..

Don’t be fooled by the stage profile – the closing kilometres are tricky!

Downloads and links

Click here to visit the stage one hub | Click here to explore the stage one timetable