Friends Life has been unveiled as the title sponsor of the inaugural Women’s Tour cycle race, which runs from 7th – 11th May
![]() |
News – Friends Life title sponsor for Women’s Tour
The five-stage road race gets underway in Oundle, Northamptonshire and finishes in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, where the first ever winner of The Friends Life Women’s Tour will be crowned. Along the way, stages will take place in Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex and Suffolk.
Dani King and Lucy Garner with the leader’s jersey for the Women’s TourÂ
The sponsorship entitlement will include the Friends Life Yellow Jersey, which will be worn each day by the race leader. Andy Briggs, Group Chief Executive of Friends Life, was joined by Olympic Gold Medal winner and triple world champion Dani King and double World Junior Road Race Champion Lucy Garner for the announcement of the sponsorship at Friends Life’s London HQ.
Andy Briggs said: “We are delighted to be the main sponsor of the first ever Women’s Tour and we are proud to support cycling and women’s sport in general. The Women’s Tour is an ideal partner for Friends Life as we continue to build our brand.”
“Our business is about developing financial fitness through each stage of life whether it’s saving for retirement or financially protecting families. We fully support what the Women’s Tour is trying to achieve – there are many other great activities connected to the race giving opportunities for more people to get involved in sport.â€
Each of the key stage towns visited by the Women’s Tour will host a Women in Sport Festival, and lots of fun events for children of all ages across a wide range of sports.
This announcement comes as tour organisers SweetSpot released the names of more top riders who will be competing. Joining reigning World and Olympic Champion Marianne Vos will be World number one Emma Johansson and current leader of the UCI World Cup and British Champion Lizzie Armitstead.
Lining up alongside them will be three further riders from the world’s top ten, Belarussian Alena Amialiuski, double World Champion Giorgia Bronzini and Italian Elisa Longo Borghini, plus a further six national champions, Gracie Elvin (Australia), Liesbet De Vocht (Belgium), Joelle Numainville (Canada), Trixi Worrack (Germany), Ashleigh Moolman (South Africa) and Jade Wilcoxson (USA).
Hugh Roberts, Chief Executive of organisers SweetSpot said: “We are delighted to be working alongside Friends Life for The Women’s Tour this May and we are looking forward to working with them to ensure that women’s cycling gains the platform it deserves and hope this partnership grows ever stronger in the future.â€
“This partnership is very much an affirmation of what we wanted for The Women’s Tour when we set out on this journey. Securing the support of such an established blue chip organisation, will raise the profile of not only women’s cycling but women’s sport in general within the UK – Friends Life are the perfect fit.â€
Commenting on the announcement, Dani King said: “I’m really excited to be a part of the first ever Friends Life Women’s Tour. To have such a big company supporting women’s cycling is huge for our sport, and women’s sport in general.â€
Lucy Garner, who will race past her home in Leicestershire on Stage Two of the race said; “It’s going to be great. I can’t wait to ride in the Friends Life Women’s Tour this May. Not a lot of riders get to say they have raced through their home town, so that is really special for me and I have no doubt the crowds will be huge!â€
The Women’s Tour, which will see 96 of the world’s top riders competing from 7th to 11th May 2014, has been granted the highest possible ranking for a stage race, by the UCI putting it on a par with the world’s top races for women.
To find out more details about the Friends Life Women’s Tour visit www.thetour.co.uk
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- TT Result: Didcot Phoenix CC 10
- TT Result: Wigan Whs 10
- TT Result: VTTA (E.Mids) 25
- TT Result: Maldon & District CC 10
- TT Result: VTTA (North Midlands) 10
- Result: RL360 Isle of Man Youth League 18
- TT Result: Yorkshire Road Club Victory Cup
- Result: Doncaster Dome Crits
- Result: Jolibar Trophy 2025 Road Race
- Result: John Holman Memorial Race
- Result: SACA Salt Ayre Tuesday Series #19
- Result: Surrey League 2/3 Road Race
- Winners! Ribble Outliers Latvian Triple!
- Result: Friz Hill Road Race
- Result: Beaumont Trophy/Curlew Cup
- Result/Report: Harrogate Nova Road Race
- Report/Result: Mid Shropshire Wheelers Friday Night Cyclo-Cross
- Result: On Yer Bike Crit Series #9
- Result: Full Gas Summer Circuit Series 22
- Result: PNE Mountbatten Circuit Series #9
- Result: Schils Summer Circuit Races 2
- World Records for Bjergfelt & Richardson
- TT Result: Finsbury Park CC 25
- Result: RL360 Isle of Man Youth League
- Result: Full Gas Summer Circuit Series 21
- Result: Full Gas Summer Circuit Series 20
- Result: Scottish Senior and Junior Criterium Championships
- GB FOR JUNIOR TRACK WORLD CHAMPS
- Result: West Thames League Rnd 18
- Result: SACA Salt Ayre Tuesday 18
- Result: RCR ALTA VIA Goodwood Special
- TT Result: Aerologic RT 15
- TT Result: VCC late-season 25m TT
- TT Result: Thanet RC 10 TT
- TT Result: Giant-Helston 10
- TT Result: Okehampton CC 10
- TT Result: ECCA 10 (Terry Anderson Memorial)
- TT Result: Sussex Cyclists’ Assoc. 15
- TT Result: Iain Longbotham Memorial 25 TT
- Result: Trash Mile Summer Slam IV
Other News on VeloUK
- Winners! Ribble Outliers Latvian Triple!
- GB FOR JUNIOR TRACK WORLD CHAMPS
- Beaumont Trophy/Curlew Cup 2025
- STAGE ROUTES ANNOUNCED FOR MEN’S TOUR OF BRITAIN
- TOUR OF BRITAIN NEWS – THE TEAMS
- Startlist: RTTC National 25 Mile Championship
- Ribble Cycles CGR – Commute, Gravel, Road range
- Tour of Britain News: 2 Days in Wales
- News: The Pedal Club Lunch (July)
- STARTLIST: National Youth Circuit Series (Wyke)
- Men’s Tour of Britain Route Update
- GB Team for Track Euros
- Opening of Sir Mark Cavendish Raceway
- Bike News: Ribble Cycles Alloy Bikes
- This Weekend: Junior Road Championships
- Wednesday: Otley Cycle Races
- Mid Shropshire Wheelers celebrates 100 Years of Cycling
- Team Feature: Prologue Junior Racing Team Spring Review
- New: Ribble Cycles Ultra-Grit & Allgrit Ranges
- START LISTS FOR BRITISH ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS
- STARTLIST: Two day Giant Tugby Ronde van Wymeswold
- NEWS: MAJOR JUNIOR TEAMS TO MERGE FOR 2026
- Entries Wanted: Ilkley Town Centre Races
- Report/Result: Women’s Tour of Britain Stage 2
- Report: Women’s Tour of Britain Stage 1
- STARTLIST: Owen Blower Memorial Road Races
- Events: Halesowen Academy Road Race
- News: May Pedal Club Lunch
- RIBBLE PARTNERS WITH THE BIKE FITTERS
- Monday: Witham Wheelers Road Races
- British Stars for Women’s Tour of Britain
- Women’s Tour of Britain Riders 2025
- BIKES: RIBBLE UNVEILS ULTRA-RACE
- Women’s Tour of Britain Routes
- STARTLISTS: 2025 Lincoln Grand Prix
- STARTLIST: The Witham Hall Grand Prix
- Startlist: Timmy James Memorial Grand Prix
- FEATURE: PEDAL CLUB LUNCH REPORT (APRIL)
- 2025 BRITISH ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS – ROUTES
- STARTLIST: Sloan Trophy (April 27)