Warwickshire will welcome back the Women's Tour, the UK's leading international women's cycle race, when the county features in two of the 2023 event's five stages.

Already the second most visited county in race history, Warwickshire will break new ground once again when it hosts the race's Grand Départ for the first time ever on Wednesday 7 June.

Over 100 of the world's best riders will set out from Stratford-upon-Avon and head into the countryside for an undulating day of racing set entirely within the county.

Stage one finishes in Royal Leamington Spa, scene of victories for Australians Chloe Hosking and Sarah Roy in the 2017 and 2018 editions of the race respectively.

The Women's Tour's two previous stage finishes in Royal Leamington Spa were watched by more than 20,000 spectators and generated a boost worth over £750,000 to the town's economy - according to Warwickshire County Council.

Warwickshire will feature once again three days later, as the race moves to the north of the county, with Coleshill marking the starting point for stage four on Saturday 10 June. This will be the market town's first appearance in the race.

Set entirely within the Midlands, this stage will see the peloton race towards the city of Derby, which is home to one of the UK's six indoor velodromes.

Warwickshire has played a big role in the Women's Tour, having previously hosted the prestigious race's first hill-top finish (at Burton Dassett in 2019) and time trial (in Atherstone two years ago).

Mick Bennett, Women's Tour race director, said: "Few places have embraced the Women's Tour as warmly as Warwickshire, so we're thrilled to be working with Warwickshire County Council and partners across the county once again to bring the event back in June.

"I know that there will be great enthusiasm for the Grand Départ, which will provide a day-long showcase for the county. Being able to return to Warwickshire – and more precisely to Coleshill, a brand new host venue for us – for the stage four start will further add to the local excitement!"

Launched in 2014, the award-winning event was the UK's first international women's stage race for women. Heralded as a game-changer in the journey towards gender equality in sport, previous winners of the Women's Tour include Marianne Vos (2014), Lizzie Deignan (2016, 2019) and Elisa Longo Borghini (2022).

Further details of this year's race, including competing teams, leaders' jerseys and stage routes, will be revealed in the coming weeks.

The 2023 Women's Tour stages

Stage one       Wednesday 7 June    Stratford-upon-Avon to Royal Leamington Spa

Stage two       Thursday 8 June           Northampton to Ampthill

Stage three    Friday 9 June             Dalby Forest to Guisborough

Stage four      Saturday 10 June      Coleshill to Derby

Stage five       Sunday 11 June         Birmingham city centre circuit race

(Header image by Steve Airey via Flickr)