Cycling tour hailed a huge success
THE Aviva Women's Tour cycling race through Warwickshire on Thursday, 16th June, has been hailed a success - despite heavy rain, an enforced detour and murmurings of discontent about the road closures in Strafford-upon-Avon.
After months of anticipation, some of the world’s highest ranking female cyclists arrived for stage two of the five-stage race.
A large audience lined Bridge Street to watch Amy Pieters, of the Wiggle/High 5 team, pedal to victory in a dramatic photo finish.
Support for the event was outstanding across the county with spectators gathering along the route as expected, said Warwickshire County Council, which was the official host.
It started strong in Atherstone where Gemma Nash, of St Benedict's RC Primary School, Atherstone, waved the start flag, which she designed for a local competition, as residents and councillors cheered.
There was a minor detour due to some flooding in Kenilworth but the riders pushed on through the weather to Warwick's Market Square where they were greeted by crowds of eager on lookers including the town's mayor and county councillors.
There was even great support at the top of a very wet hill in Burton Dasset for a 1.9km Queen of the Mountains climb.
At the end of the day, the leader of Warwickshire County Council, Cllr Izzi Seccombe, presented the stage winner trophy - designed by pupil Matthew Jordan from St Margaret’s School, Whitnash in Leamington - to Pieters just down the road from Shakespeare's Birthplace.
“It was fantastic to see so much support for the event across Warwickshire”, said Cllr Seccombe.
"I truly hope people enjoyed the AVIVA Women's Tour's brief but exciting visit to Warwickshire, and I’d like to thank everybody involved in organising what has been a brilliant day.
"We hope it will leave a legacy of enthusiasm for sports like cycling in the county.
The county council said it would be able to release details of the economic on the economy in the coming weeks, although last year Northamptonshire County Council estimated the 2015 tour which is hosted a stage of generated £1million with almost 70,000 people turning out to see the riders.
The 2016 tour itself was one by British rider, Lizzie Armitstead.
CLICK HERE to watch highlights of stage two through Warwickshire.
