| OVO Energy, the award-winning independent energy supplier, will back an equal prize fund for the Women’s Tour and Tour of Britain for the second year running. Having first made this significant pledge on the path towards gender equality in cycling in 2018, Britain’s most prestigious women’s and men’s cycle races will again offer the same prize money structure thanks to the innovative Bristol-based company. With the Women’s Tour increasing to six days for the first time in its history for its sixth edition this summer (Monday 10 – Saturday 15 June), the world’s best riders and teams will compete for €97,880 in 2019 – up from €89,999 last year. Adrian Letts, CEO of Retail, OVO Energy, said: “This is our third year sponsoring the OVO Energy Women’s Tour, helping to enable a free-to-view sporting event to be brought to fans across the UK. Last year we announced the top cyclists at the Women’s Tour would compete for equal prize money, taking a meaningful step towards gender parity in cycling. We’re proud to have committed to matching the prize money again, helping to provide an equal platform and inspiring more women to ride bikes.” Commenting on the announcement, OVO Energy Women’s Tour Race Director Mick Bennett added: “This continued commitment by OVO Energy aligns with our desire to keep the Women’s Tour at the forefront of sport’s push towards equality. In 2018 we saw how aggressive and entertaining the racing was – no doubt helped by the prize fund on offer – and I have little doubt that the action will relent in June.” The 2019 OVO Energy Women’s Tour begins with a Grand Depart in Suffolk for the second year; ninety-six starters will cover 157.6 kilometres (98 miles) between the market towns of Beccles and Stowmarket. The race continues to form part of the prestigious UCI Women’s WorldTour series, which began with the Strade Bianche one-day race in Italy on Saturday. |
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Created by SweetSpot Group in 2014, the OVO Energy Women’s Tour is the UK’s first international stage race for women, bringing the world’s top riders to compete in Great Britain as a part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour.
In addition to its wider aims of promoting active and healthy lifestyles to women, the event has championed equality in sport, notably offering the same prize fund pro rata as the men’s OVO Energy Tour of Britain. The race will expand to six days for the first time in its history in 2019.
The race, which has been won by the likes of Marianne Vos (2014), Lizzie Deignan (2016) and Coryn Rivera (2018), attracts an annual roadside audience of 300,000, as well as over three million fans through linear and online platforms.
Follow the OVO Energy Women’s Tour on Twitter (#OVOWT), Facebook, Instagram or via the event’s official website at womenstour.co.uk.
For further media information please contact
Peter Hodges (07970 526 519 / peterh@thetour.co.uk) and
Nick Bull (07977 151 184 / nickb@thetour.co.uk).
