Women's Tour 2014 preview
We preview the inaugural five-day Women's Tour, where the world's top riders are in action across the country.
Wednesday 7 May 2014 10:14, UK
The best female riders in the world will race on English soil this week at the inaugural Women's Tour (May 7-11).
Ones to watch
Marianne Vos (Rabobank-Liv)The best female rider of her generation and arguably the No 1 pound-for-pound rider in both men's and women's cycling over the past two years, Vos is nothing short of a phenomenon. Last year, of the 39 days she raced, she won 20 times, finishing on the podium in another nine - meaning she is almost always in with a chance of victory, irrespective of the type of stage. The reigning world and Olympic champion made a late start to her 2014 season but has already won on two of her four race days, so expect her to once again be right in the thick of the action. Lizzie Armitstead (Boels-Dolmans)
Britain's leading road rider goes into the Women's Tour in the form of her life. In March and April, she went on a remarkable spree of finishing on the podium in ten of her 12 race days, picking up two wins along the way. After illness ravaged her 2013 season, the 25-year-old is back to her very best and her silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics is ample proof that she can raise her standards even further when racing on British soil. Emma Johansson (Orica-AIS)
Last year's world No 1-ranked rider is enjoying another outstanding season. Like Armitstead, she heads to Britain on the back of an outstanding spring campaign in which she won three times and finished on the podium on another four occasions. Lucy Garner (Great Britain)
The 19-year-old Briton is one of the brightest young prospects in women's cycling. A former double junior world champion, Garner is a sprint specialist who will be keen to make her mark on the Women's Tour's flatter finishes. She is yet to pick up her first win of 2014, but three podiums in the past couple of months suggest a victory is not far away. Ellen van Dijk (Boels-Dolmans)
The reigning world time trial is a team-mate of Armitstead's and just as big a threat on her day. The 27-year-old won this year's Tour of Flanders with a superb solo ride and also finished fourth overall at last weekend's Festival Luxembourgeois du cyclisme féminin Elsy Jacobs, so she has fine form to go with her pedigree.
Brit watch
Katie Archibald (Great Britain), Lizzie Armitstead (Boels-Dolmans), Elinor Barker (Wiggle Honda), Hannah Barnes (UnitedHealthcare), Louise Borthwick (Matrix Racing Academy), Lucy Garner (Great Britain), Amy Hill (Great Britain), Ciara Horne (Great Britain), Hayley Jones (Great Britain), Emily Kay (Great Britain), Dani King (Wiggle Honda), Sharon Laws (UnitedHealthcare), Lucy Martin (Estado de Mexico-Faren Kuota), Harriet Owen (Matrix Racing Academy), Emma Pooley (Lotto Belisol), Jo Tindley (Matrix Racing Academy), Laura Trott (Wiggle Honda), Jessie Walker (Matrix Racing Academy), Helen Wyman (Matrix Racing Academy).Key stage
Stage four. Two hefty late climbs have the potential to create race-deciding gaps in the general classification.The jerseys
- Yellow: General classification. - Red and green: Points classification
- Orange and white polka dots: Queen of the mountains.
- Red, white and blue: Best British rider.
- White: Best young rider.
Time bonuses
- 10, 6 and 4 bonus seconds will be awarded to the first three finishers on each stage.- 3, 2 and 1 second will be awarded to the first three riders over the line at intermediate sprints.
