Women’s Tour fans will be able to get closer to the UK’s leading UCI Women’s WorldTour event than ever before in 2023 thanks to a new crowdfunding initiative launched today.

Fans can show their support for this year’s event, which is set to start in Warwickshire on Wednesday 7 June and culminate in the heart of Birmingham five stages later, by donating as little as £5. Anybody who contributes will have their name included on a special heroes’ wall that will be on display at each stage start and finish at the 2023 race, as well as printed in the official race roadbook. Digital certificates will also be sent to all contributors.

The race is seeking to raise funds to help cover ever-increasing organisational costs, as well as a shortfall from sponsorship income. At present, three of the race’s four prestigious jersey classifications (leader, mountains, and best young rider) remain available, while individual stage partnership packages (including naming rights) are also on offer for the first time for selected days.

Donations can be made now at GoFundMe.

About the Women’s Tour 2023

The Women’s Tour, which forms a part of the prestigious UCI Women’s WorldTour series, will begin in Stratford-upon-Avon on Wednesday 7 June. It will feature a stage between Northampton and Ampthill (Thursday 8 June) before tackling the most northerly stage in race history to date between Dalby Forest and Guisborough. The penultimate stage of the race (Saturday 10 June) takes place between Coleshill and Derby, creating a Midlands doubleheader to end the event.

Launched in 2014, the award-winning event was the UK’s first international women’s stage race for women. Heralded as a game-changer in the journey towards gender equality in sport, previous winners of the Women’s Tour include Marianne Vos (2014), Lizzie Deignan (2016, 2019) and Elisa Longo Borghini (2022).

This year’s Women’s Tour has already attracted the support of cottages.com, Brother UK, Accurist and cycleGuard. Organisers hope that today’s crowdfunding announcement will generate additional commercial interest in the race. Click here for more information.

Quotes

Nick Bull, Women’s Tour PR & digital manager, said: “We have witnessed fans make a significant impact on elite cycling events from a commercial and emotional perspective in similar campaigns. Having been inundated with messages from people wishing to show their support for the race over the past week, launching a crowdfunding campaign seemed the logical thing to do. We’ve been blown away by their kind words and everybody associated with the race thanks them for their continued support!”

 

*Fans should note that donations will be refunded should this year’s race not take place.