The 2025 Women’s Tour of Britain will take place in early June, despite earlier uncertainty about the event. The four-stage race will cover northern England and Scotland, starting on June 5 in Yorkshire and concluding in Glasgow. This announcement comes amid a positive outlook for British cycling, boosted by news that the men’s and women’s Tour de France will begin in Britain in 2027.
The opening two stages of the Women’s Tour of Britain will explore the beauty of Dalby Forest, the North York Moors National Park, and the Tees Valley. On the third stage, the race will head into the Scottish Borders before finishing with a thrilling city-centre circuit in Glasgow. The city is particularly meaningful to Scottish rider Neah Evans, who began her cycling career after a taster session at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.
The event will bring attention to some of the most scenic and challenging landscapes in Britain, including the notorious Saltburn Bank, which is set to host the stage two finish. Saltburn, known for its steep 15% gradients, has previously been a key location in the men’s Tour of Britain and has also hosted the British national championships. This promises to be a stage that fans are eagerly anticipating.
Lotte Kopecky, the Belgian rider who claimed victory in the 2024 Women’s Tour of Britain, is expected to defend her title. Kopecky, who also won the world road race championship in Glasgow in 2023, will be one of the favorites to take the win again this year. Other top riders in the peloton include the Netherlands’ Demi Vollering, the highest-paid female cyclist, and Kasia Niewadoma, a Polish star and the 2024 Tour de France champion. Their participation will add further excitement to the race.
The Women’s Tour of Britain highlights the increasing prominence of women’s cycling, as demonstrated by Vollering’s success and the rising salaries for female cyclists. This growth is part of a larger trend in the world of women’s sport, which is expected to generate global revenues of at least £1.88 billion in 2025.
British Cycling Events, which organizes the race, has announced the addition of Dalby Forest and the North York Moors as first-time locations for the event, both offering stunning vistas and challenging terrain for the cyclists. The race will pass through some of the most picturesque regions of North Yorkshire and the Tees Valley, ensuring that the competitors will experience a mix of stunning scenery and tough ascents.
The excitement surrounding this year’s race is compounded by the fact that detailed route information for both the men’s and women’s Tours of Britain will be revealed later in the spring. Fans of the sport are eagerly awaiting the official announcement to see which towns will host the men’s race, scheduled for September 2-7, 2025. The director of both races will be Rod Ellingworth, who has a history with Team Sky and Ineos Grenadiers and is currently a senior manager at Bahrain Victorious in the UCI World Tour.
The Women’s Tour of Britain is shaping up to be a thrilling event, showcasing the talents of some of the world’s best female cyclists. As women’s cycling continues to gain momentum, the race will be a key event in the global calendar, demonstrating the sport’s growing appeal and the rising profiles of its stars.
