{"id":6166,"date":"2017-06-06T19:00:28","date_gmt":"2017-06-06T18:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.chrismaher.co.uk\/?p=6166"},"modified":"2017-08-03T19:12:18","modified_gmt":"2017-08-03T18:12:18","slug":"ovo-energy-womens-tour-2017-pre-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrismaher.co.uk\/?p=6166","title":{"rendered":"OVO Energy Women’s Tour 2017 | Pre Race"},"content":{"rendered":"
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OVO Energy Leaders Jersey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 2017 OVO Energy Women\u2019s Tour takes place from Wednesday 7th June to Sunday 11th June over five stages.<\/p>\n

This is the forth edition of the Women\u2019s Tour and the first title sponsor for OVO Energy launched originally by SweetSpot in 2014.<\/p>\n

Download the Final #WT2017 Start Sheet here<\/a>, Ninty-nine riders have signed-on.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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OVO Energy Women’s Tour 2017 National Stage Map<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

The race is part of the UCI Women\u2019s World Tour [WWT<\/a>] for this second occasion that visits ten Countries around the World, including twenty events and forty-six days of racing.<\/p>\n

The current individual UCI Women\u2019s WWT leader is Netherlands Anna Van Der Breggen riding for Boels Dolmans Cycling Team and will wear the leader\u2019s jersey and number six on her jersey.<\/p>\n

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Current UCI WWT Leader, Anna Van Der Breggen, Boels Dolmans Cycling Team<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 2015 World Road Race Champion leads the Boels Dolmans team, which also contains world number one and reigning Olympic Champion Anna van der Breggen, plus former stage winners in the OVO Energy Women’s Tour Christine Majerus and Amy Pieters.<\/p>\n

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OVO Energy Women’s Tour 2017 Press. Defending Champion Lizzie Deignan, Boels Dolmans<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“I<\/i>m very excited. It’s always a privilege for me to race at home in such a prestigious event. It’s developed into a race that everybody targets,”<\/em> said Lizzie Deignan speaking ahead of the race start.<\/p>\n

“I<\/i>m not very good at stage races normally; having the home crowd and a very strong team helped me achieve that victory last year. To be able to win a stage race on home soil was special.”\u009d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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OVO Energy Women’s Tour 2017 Press, Anna Van Der Breggen, Boels Dolmans<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“<\/i>I think it’s a great race,”\u009d<\/em> added the current UCI Women’s WorldTour leader Anna van der Breggen. Going on to say<\/p>\n

“Im impressed with how it’s organised. All the time you see schoolchildren and people watching. That’s pretty different compared to Holland. I think seeing this stage race, it’s getting bigger and bigger. We don’t have many stages races and those that we do have been on the calendar for many years, so it’s really cool to have this new event develop at such a high level.”\u009d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Seventeen teams will take part this year, including the top fifteen ranked teams in the World.<\/p>\n

Six teams make their Women\u2019s Tour debut, BePink Cogeas, Lares Waowdeals, Lensworld Kuota, Team VeloCONCEPT, Team WNT Pro Cycling and WM3 Pro Cycling.<\/p>\n

Three British teams will race this year\u2019s tour, Drops Pro Cycling, Team WNT Pro Cycling and Wiggle High5.<\/p>\n

There are fourteen Brits riding this years Women\u2019s Tour<\/p>\n

Lizzie Deignan [1] & Nikki Brammier [3] Boels Dolmans Cycling Team.<\/p>\n

Hannah Barnes [73] Canyon SRAM.<\/p>\n

Alice Cobb [132] Lares Waowdeals.<\/p>\n

Alice Barnes [81], Rebecca Durrell [82], Abby-Mae Parkinson [83], Annie Simpson [85] & Hannah Payton [86] Drops Pro Cycling.<\/p>\n

Dani King [91] Cylance Pro Cycling.<\/p>\n

Katie Archibald [161], Hayley Jones [163], Eileen Roe [165] & Natalie Grinczer [165] WNT Pro Cycling.<\/p>\n

All three previous winners return this year. Last years winner Lizzie Deignan [Boels Dolmans Cycling Team], Lisa Brennauer [2015] Canyon SRAM Racing and Mariane Vos [2014] with her new team WM3 Pro Cycling.<\/p>\n

Marianne Vos has won the most stages wins to-date, four stages in-all.<\/p>\n

Since the Women\u2019s Tour started back in 2014, it has covered 1,707 kilometres. This year\u2019s edition will be the longest to-date covering 650 kilometres.<\/p>\n

The 2017 OVO Energy Women\u2019s Tour will feature eight designated Skoda Queen of the Mountains climbs, two per stage on the first four stages, and ten intermediate Eisberg Sprints, two per stage.<\/p>\n

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SKODA QoM Jersey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A few words from our girls.<\/p>\n

Alice Cobb, Professional Cyclist, Lares Waowdeals<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven the circumstances of the lead up to this race, it will feel very momentous for me to be on the start line making my Women\u2019s WorldTour debut on home soil,\u201d said Cobb, who studied at the University of Warwick, which again is on the route of the Warwickshire stage on Friday 9 June.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo think about how far I’ve come in a year \u2013 from hunching over textbooks to lining up alongside the world’s best female cyclists \u2013 feels pretty special. It definitely makes all the hours on the turbo worthwhile!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI’d like to hope that it will suit me more because I do tend to prefer the longer and hillier stage races. Bizarrely the ‘harder’ the race the more I enjoy it so I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into the Tour.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m sure the rolling terrain and punchy hills of Warwickshire and Derbyshire will make for tough and attritional racing which will be great for spectators and should set up a good general classification battle.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Eisberg Sprints Jersey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Katie Archibald, Professional Cyclist for Team WNT<\/p>\n

\u201cThe race being hosted by London is a fantastic opportunity for women\u2019s cycling and shows how far the sport has grown over the past couple of years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m excited but also nervous about the opportunity to ride the OVO Energy Women’s Tour since it’s one of the most competitive stage races on the women’s UCI calendar. Riding for Team WNT I hope to make an impact on the road scene after a change of focus from an enjoyable track season in 2016.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe parts we\u2019ve seen so far have been really nice, there\u2019s lots of really narrow twisting roads, and I think that\u2019s going to be one of the hardest things to manoeuvre so I\u2019m glad we\u2019ve been able to see it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s lots of rolling roads around it so I think in terms of marking things for where\u2019s it going to go, the Queen of the Mountains are certainly important, but I think there\u2019s going to be some other key moments for attacks throughout.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Hannah Barnes, Professional Cyclist, Canyon SRAM<\/p>\n

“I am really looking forward to racing on home roads and seeing familiar faces. It’s special to have the support, especially from family and friends that don’t get to see me race very often and see for themselves the excitement around the racing. This is a great race on the calendar to be at.”<\/p>\n

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Adnams Best British Rider Jersey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“The stages are long and the routes are hard so it will be critical to stay well-fuelled and hydrated for the five days. I had a small break after Tour de Yorkshire and then started to rebuild. I had one week altitude in Park City in USA, then raced the Amgen Tour of California and followed that with a hard training week in California.”<\/p>\n

“All of the stages add a different dimension, but I believe with the team we are taking we can do well in the longer more rolling days. For me personally, I am confident to get over the QOM’s in a small group and follow it with a good result.”<\/p>\n

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Wiggle Points Jersey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“The first day is long and the terrain is challenging. Everyone will be fresh and excited to get racing. The stages are long so it will be important to conserve as much energy as possible in the earlier stages. The finish is the same as the previous two editions so the riders will know what to expect and will even recognise some of the roads.”<\/p>\n

“Stage 2 will likely split on Gun Hill because there is only 25km to the finish. Sprinters and their teams will have to work hard to make it over the top of the climb or chase back in time for the finale. The British roads are notorious for being grippy which makes the effort of racing a lot harder. This stage has the sort of terrain a small group can get away when the pressure is on and potential go to the line if the composition of riders and teams are right. This one will be exciting to watch!”<\/p>\n

“Stage 3 could be a large group coming to line but with both QOM’s coming in the final 40km I think it’s more a stage for the opportunist. Edge Hill (1.1km at 9.5%) and Burton Dassett (600m at 9%) come within 10km of each other. It could be the day where the races QOM is decided.”<\/p>\n

“Stage 4 looks really hard. If the GC hasn’t already been decided then this stage is perfect for teams to be aggressive and create pressure for the GC contenders. There aren’t many hard climbs in the final 70km but with the roads being heavy and now coming into the end of the tour, I predict there will be small groups coming to the line in Chesterfield.”<\/p>\n

“The final stage in London will be really exciting! The crowds are always great and the course has a lot of corners plus some hairpins so it will be explosive and with the stage being shorter than the previous days it will be more intense and a great finale to the tour.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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OVO Energy Women’s Tour 2017 Pre Race Press talk with Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, Lizzie Deignan, Anna Van Der Breggen and Elisa Longo Borghini with Race Director Mick Bennett & Breast Cancer Care’s Claire Pulford.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Celebrate 25 years of Breast Cancer Care with Claire Pulford in London on Sunday 11 June before the Professionals start their final race. 1000 women each wearing the “Pink Ribbon<\/a>” will ride the same closed circuit before the OVO Energy WT concludes.<\/p>\n

Invited by the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, and Transport for London. It will be the first time this spectacular event will take place in the heart of this great city he said. Taking in world-famous sights like Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and Regent Street.<\/p>\n

Claire Pulford, head of events at Breast Cancer Care says: “<\/i>As the official charity partner for the OVO Energy Women’s Tour, Breast Cancer Care is delighted to be at the start line of what is the most prestigious women’s cycling event in the world. To mark the 25th anniversary of the pink ribbon each of the pro cyclists has received a pink ribbon with a motivational message from a woman who has experienced breast cancer in her life.<\/em><\/p>\n

“<\/i>With our own Pink Ribbon Tour event coinciding with the final leg of the race in London on 11 June, we are encouraging people up and down the country to join us; get on their bikes, and cycle for those affected by breast cancer. Whether you ride solo or with friends and family, it’s a great way to raise money and show your support.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The OVO Energy Roll of Honour<\/pre>\n
OVO Energy General Classification<\/p>\n
2016 Lizzie Deignan (GBr) Boels Dolmans
\n2015 Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Velocio SRAM
\n2014 Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabo Liv<\/p>\n
Wiggle Points Classification<\/p>\n
2016 Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabo Liv
\n2015 Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Velocio SRAM
\n2014 Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabo Liv<\/p>\n
SKODA Queen of the Mountains Classification<\/p>\n
2016 Katie Hall (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
\n2015 Melissa Hoskins (Aus) Orica GreenEDGE
\n2014 Sharon Laws (GBr) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling<\/p>\n
Adnams Best British Rider Classification<\/p>\n
2016 Lizzie Deignan (GBr) Boels Dolmans
\n2015 Hannah Barnes (GBr) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
\n2014 Lucy Garner (GBr) Great Britain<\/p>\n
Best Young Rider Classification<\/p>\n
2016 Floortje Mackaij (Ned) Team Liv Plantur
\n2015 Hannah Barnes (GBr) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
\n2014 Rossella Ratto (Ita) Estado de Mexico Faren<\/p>\n
OVO Energy Team Classification<\/p>\n
2016 Wiggle HIGH5
\n2015 Boels Dolmans
\n2014 Optum p\/b Kelly Benefit Strategies<\/p>\n
Overall Combativity Award<\/p>\n
2016 Emilia Fahlin (Swe) Ale Cipollini
\n2015 Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Wiggle HIGH5
\n2014 Susanna Zorzi (Ita) Astana<\/p>\n
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OVO Energy Women’s Tour 2017 Press, Elisa Longo Borghini Wiggle High5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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OVO Energy Women’s Tour 2017 Press, Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, Cervelo Bigl<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Tomorrow\u2019s Race Route from Daventry to Kettering starting at 11.00am<\/pre>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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