Matera, Italy - 15 June, 2015 - Velocio-SRAM are ready to race in Great Britain for the Aviva Women's Tour of Britain starting on Wednesday 17 June. After a successful 2014 race, the tour organisers have again produced a five-day stage race what looks set to be on varied terrain and provides ample opportunities for spectators to see all of the action.
With some flat stages and some hilly stages, it gives the opportunity for a range of riders to take stage wins. Team Director Ronny Lauke said, "Last year's edition was really great, with large crowds and a great atmosphere not just at the start and finish, but all along the race route. The fans in the UK are definitely passionate about cycling and it was great to see. We're looking forward to racing the Aviva Women's Tour of Britain again."
Lauke added, "We had a very successful race program in North America where our team either won or was on podium for five out of the seven races we did. The highlight being Trixi Worrack's win in Amgen Tour of California empowered with SRAM and Alena Amialiusik's podium in the World Cup in Philadelphia. I think we can expect to see some good form from our team at this tour."
Lisa Brennauer and Trixi Worrack will lead the Velocio-SRAM roster, joined for a strong well-rounded team by Italian sprinter Barbara Guarischi, and Loren Rowney, Elise Delzenne, and Tiffany Cromwell.
Live action can be followed on the team's twitter account @velociosports.
Here's what awaits the riders.
Wednesday 17 June - Stage One: Bury St Edmunds - Aldeburgh (Suffolk) 112.6km
The race opens with a 112.6 kilometre stage through the busy county of Suffolk. Spectators are expected to be in their thousands as the peloton moves its way from Bury St Edmunds to the largest town of Ipswich. The last kilometres of the opening stage will be a run into the Aldeburgh beach with a threat for strong winds to play a factor in the final. The first rider over the line will be the 2015 tour's first leader.
TV Coverage: 20:00, Wednesday 17 June one-hour highlights on ITV4 (Repeated at 11:10 on Thursday 18 June).
Thursday 18 June - Stage Two: Braintree - Clacton-On-Sea (Essex) 138km
The second longest stage for the Aviva Women's Tour of Britain, stage two will see riders take on some of the same roads as the 2014 edition. Headwinds are expected as the peloton moves east towards the seaside town of Clacton, making breakaways efforts difficult and a bunch sprint is the most likely scenario for the stage finish.
TV Coverage: 20:00, Thursday 18 June one-hour highlights on ITV4 (Repeated at 11:05 on Friday 19 June).
Friday 19 June - Stage Three: Oundle - Kettering (North Hamptonshire) 139.2km
The Friday stage gives the climbers in the peloton an opportunity to shine. With a total elevation gain of over 1579m, the third and longest stage could see a shake-up of the overall general classification. Riders take on two Queen of the Mountain climbs in Rockingham and Harrington but the course is undulating all day long and a smaller peloton is expected to be first at the finish in Kettering.
TV Coverage: 20:00, Friday 19 June one-hour highlights on ITV4 (Repeated at 11:10 on Saturday 20 June).
Saturday 20 June - Stage Four: Waltham Cross (Broxbourne) - Stevenage (Hertfordshire) 103.8km
This stage twists and winds all day long with the route through the heart of England in Hertfordshire, home of one of the most famous female cyclists from the UK, Laura Trott. The climbers will have opportunities to again split the peloton with the short steep rises but it is expected to come back together for a likely bunch sprint into Stevenage.
TV Coverage: 20:00, Saturday 20 June one-hour highlights on ITV4 (Repeated at 11:10 on Sunday 21 June).
Sunday 21 June - Stage Five: Marlow (Buckinghamshire) - Hemel Hempstead (Hertfordshire) 102.6km
The shortest stage is by no means the easiest for the finale of the tour that takes in two new towns. Both Queen of the Mountain climbs come towards the last half of the stage, and another final climb is just 10 kilometres from the finish. The sprinters in the bunch will be hanging on for all they have to make it to the downhill run into Hemel Hempstead for an exciting finish in front of thousands of spectators.
TV Coverage: 20:00, Sunday 21 June one-hour highlights on ITV4 (Repeated at 11:15 on Monday 22 June).
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