OVO Energy Women’s Tour 2018 Preview

Jun 12
cyclical

One of the biggest, best and richest women’s races on the calendar kicks off again tomorrow – the fifth edition of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour. It’s a race that attracts a stellar cast and huge support from the roadside. Generally regarded as among the best organised and most challenging World Tour events, a win here brings prestige … and cash.

 

The route

On paper, it looks like the toughest edition so far, with challenging courses, a scattering of first-category climbs, and a lot of travelling. Factor in a very hilly final stage through north-west Wales’ Brecon Beacons and the overall victory, after 678 kilometers, should go to the wire.

We start off in East Anglia, with a likely stage one sprint finish on the coast at Southwold, before a lumpy stage two should cause a reduced group sprint. Stage three to Royal Leamington Spa was won in 2017 by Chloe Hosking, despite two nasty climbs, so another bunch sprint is probable. Stage four is new territory – from Evesham to Worcester – and could see a breakaway go the distance. Things wind up on stage five at Colwyn Bay after a long, dragging climber’s stage.

The route for the 2018 OVO Energy Women’s Tour

The contenders

The defending champion Katarzyna Niewiadoma is back to defend her title, this time in the colors of Canyon-SRAM. It seems pretty unlikely that a repeat of last year’s sneak attack on stage one will be allowed to succeed, but you never know. Canyon-SRAM also bring the Barnes sisters (Hannah and Alice) who have good wins to their names this season as well as ex-world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot.

Kasia Niewiadoma, Women's Tour 2017 Stage 1, Kettering
Kasia Niewiadoma took the stage – and, ultimately, the overall title – thanks to an audacious attack on stage one in the 2017 OVO Energy Women’s Tour.

Wiggle-High5 have the in-form Lisa Brennauer, Women’s Tour champ in 2015, fresh off a powerful overall win in the Thuringen Rundfahrt. Home favorite Katie Archibald rides after her Commonwealth Games success/injury problems, and Italian Elisa Longo Borghini is another potential overall winner.

As is normal, the three Dutch teams show up mob-handed – even if they have notable absentees (see below).

Boels-Dolmans will be headed by reigning world cahmpion Chantal Blaak, backed by serial Women’s Tour stage winners Christine Majerus and Amy Pieters, as well as former world champ Amalie Dideriksen.

Sunweb have Lucinda Brand, Coryn Rivera and Ellen Van Dijk, marshalled by road captain Julia Soek.

Marianne Vos, surprisingly just a one-time winner of the Women’s Tour leads a Waowdeals squad backed by an apparently firing-on-all-cylinders Dani Rowe and Sabrina Stultiens who took the opening stage at Emakumeen Bira a couple of weeks ago.

Jolien D’Hoore and Gracie Elvin head the Michelton-Scott squad while the Cylance trio of Sheyla Gutierrez, Giorgia Bronzini and Rosella Ratto could find themselves with podium time.

Cervélo-Bigla have potential stage wins to come from the returning Lotta Lepistö, while Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig could push herself into overall contention.

Add in the likes of Tatiana Guderzo and Charlotte Becker from the financially-stricken Hitec Products squad, the Virtu powerhouse Mieke Kroger, FDJ’s Roxanne Fournier, Eugenia Bujak of BTC City Ljubljana, and a sprint-strong Ale Cipollini team (Bastianelli and Hosking), and there is plenty of firepower to animate the race.

 

Absentees

Whereas Niewiadoma rides (even if she hadn’t originally intended to), there are a couple of notable no-shows. Preparing for other goals, notably the Giro Rosa in a month’s time, are Anna van der Breggen, the Olympic champion, and her compatriot Annemiek Van Vleuten, the world TT Champion.

 

The prizes

€14,490 is the top prize for the overall winner, the same as the men’s winner will get for the Tour of Britain in September. It might not make much of a difference to a top World Tour Pro (especially once you split that sum plus any other bonuses between a team and support staff), but, sadly, it makes the trip well worthwhile for a women’s pro team.

The total prize fund is a snip under €90,000. Stage wins bring in €3,615; a day in a classification leader’s jersey nets €150, while overall classification wins pull in €1,000.

 

Coverage

Daily highlights in the UK on ITV 4, and Twitter updates using #OVOWT and #UCIWWT.