Calling all Cyclists ! The Aviva Women's Tour, an international stage race for the world's top female cyclists, is coming to Buckinghamshire on the 21st June, with a start in Marlow. This is an opportunity to be one of our partners and to join the local authorities and the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEAP) in funding the project and bringing the race to Buckinghamshire. The race is only 17 days away and we need your help urgently. Please take part by pledging for some of these fantastic items.
We know how lucky we are to live in beautiful Buckinghamshire…
From the River Thames flowing through Marlow, to the Chiltern Hills looking out over Wendover, we know we have plenty to show off.
So, having the Women’s Tour weaving its way along our roads in June is a real opportunity to let the rest of the country, and beyond, see what we have to offer.
The Aviva Women’s Tour is the UK's first ever international stage-race, bringing the world's top riders to compete over five days in Great Britain. The 2014 edition of the race, won by Marianne Vos, saw hundreds of thousands of spectators turn out at the roadside, with many more around the UK watching the ITV4 highlights. With this year’s race set to be bigger and better than before, we can’t wait to have a televised, international race coming through our County. The final stage of the tour is due to come through Buckinghamshire, starting in Marlow, on the 21st June 2105.
From there it moves up towards High Wycombe via Cadmore End and Frieth, before crossing the M40 at Stokenchurch through Downley and on to Bledlow Ridge.
The riders then push on to Princes Risborough and then Kingshill and Great Missenden before heading on to Chesham before the ladies leave Bucks and head into Hertfordshire.
However much money we raise, this race will still happen this year, as the likes of Leap, ourselves and Wycombe & Chiltern District Councils have put money forward to fund our hosting of this stage of the tour and the gap has been underwritten by the BTVLEP.
But for Bucks to remain on the Aviva Women’s Tour map, we need more funding to guarantee that this international standard sporting event comes back to visit us again next time around.
And that’s where we need you!!
We know money is tight, but bringing the tour back to Bucks is great for:
- our economy: based on our experiences with the Men’s Tour in 2014, we’re expecting every pub, café and restaurant along the route to be chocka-block
- helping get girls into sport: as one of the first women’s sporting events that sit on par with the men’s equivalent, the Aviva Women’s Tour is a wonderful opportunity to engage with young girls and encourage them into spot – which is a notoriously difficult thing to do, and one being tackled by the Bucks Public Health Team and Leap. With Pro Cyclists due to come and talk to some of the County’s students in the lead up to the Tour, what better way could there be to show the benefits and what’s achievable!
- the tourist industry: it’s a great opportunity to show off the best of Buckinghamshire to the rest of the Country….and the World due to the coverage by ITV4
- helping to reduce obesity levels: with them set to rise to 80 percent in the next fifteen years, it’s pretty good in helping promote health and fitness benefits for all
In return for your support we have a number of 'money can't buy' items that we hope will be enough to encourage you to get involved in bringing the Aviva Women's Tour to Buckinghamshire.
For more details, keep your eyes on our website: http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/environment/sustainability/sustainable-travel/womens-tour-cycling/
Or on the official Aviva Women’s Tour website: http://www.womenstour.co.uk/
And, if you’re a Twitter fan, come and say hi using @bucksccevents #BucksWT2015
(More details on why we’re using Go Cardless can be found here)