Some of the most promising young riders in the Great Britain Cycling Team are set to take to the virtual start-line of the V-series Women’s Tour, taking place from 17th-19th June.
Six riders from British Cycling’s senior academy women’s endurance squad will compete in teams of three, representing the Great Britain Cycling Team and Team Breeze in the race.
Lining up in the Great Britain Cycling Team colours will be Megan Barker, Jenny Holl and Anna Docherty, while Amelia Sharpe, winner of the first test race earlier this week, along with Ella Barnwell and Anna Shackley will ride for Team Breeze in all three stages of the virtual race.
Senior Academy Women’s Endurance Coach Emma Trott said: “Every year since its inception, the Women’s Tour has been a key competition on our calendar. The opportunities the race offers to our academy riders are endless, not least because they get to race against world’s best female bike riders.
“I’m really pleased the squad still get this opportunity, albeit virtually, and it’s a real boost not just for our riders but for women’s cycling generally that the race will be broadcast on the BBC.
“Lock down has been a challenge for the squad – as it has been for everybody – but I’ve been proud to see how all the riders have demonstrated their resilience and adapted to a new way of training. We have maintained a strong team dynamic throughout, thanks to video calls, and just last week we were joined by Lizzie Deignan who shared some invaluable insight and advice from her career. I know the riders took a lot from this session, and it’ll give them some extra motivation to perform well in the racing next week. From a coach’s point of view, I can’t wait to see how they get on.”