Thousands Gather Across Cumbria For Tour Of Britain Women
Thousands of spectators gathered across north and West Cumbria on Wednesday, August 19, to watch the opening stage of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women.
The race passed through Whitehaven, Workington, Maryport, Allonby, Silloth, Abbeytown, Wigton, Caldbeck and Aspatria, bringing professional women's cycling to communities across the county. Crowds gathered along the route to watch the peloton pass through the area, while Cockermouth hosted a fan zone connected to the event.
Dutch rider Lorena Wiebes won the opening stage sprint and became the first rider to claim the race leader's jersey. Italy's Chiara Consonni crossed the line in second place, while Britain's Josie Nelson completed the podium in third.
The event forms part of a partnership between British Cycling and Cumberland Council aimed at strengthening links between cycling and tourism in the region. Cumbria Combined Authority also supported the staging of the event, which provided an opportunity to showcase communities and landscapes across north and West Cumbria to visitors and cycling supporters.
Visitors attending the fan zone in Cockermouth were also able to view the Tour de France Grand Départ trophy and find out more about plans for the major cycling event. The Tour of Britain Women's visit is being seen as an important milestone ahead of Cumbria's involvement in the 2027 Tour de France.
The Tour de France will return to the UK for the first time in more than a decade in 2027. The opening stage is scheduled to begin in Edinburgh before finishing in Carlisle on Friday, July 2, while the second stage will start in Keswick and travel through the Lake District and Lancashire before reaching Liverpool.
Cumberland Council leader Councillor Mark Fryer said the strong public turnout had created a sense of excitement across the area and demonstrated the region's ability to host major sporting events. He thanked organisers and spectators for helping deliver the event and said the response had increased anticipation for the Tour de France Grand Départ in 2027.
The large crowds and community involvement during the women's race provided a further indication of the interest in major cycling events across the region. With Carlisle and Keswick set to play prominent roles during the 2027 Tour de France, the successful staging of the Tour of Britain Women has provided an opportunity for local communities to experience the atmosphere of elite cycling ahead of next year's international event.
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