OVO Energy confirmed it will sponsor the Tour of Britain and the Women's Tour in '17. The new title sponsorship will see the events named the OVO Energy Tour of Britain and the OVO Energy Women's Tour, while the leader's jersey will turn green for the first time. The company will also sponsor the 2017 Tour Ride which will give amateur cyclists the opportunity to take on the challenge of a route inspired by the Women's Tour. The tour covers 1,900km, with more than 200 competitors, 2 million spectators and 14 million TV viewers (British Cycling). CYCLING NEWS reported as well as a new sponsor, organizers "confirmed the presence of the Women's Tour's three former winners" -- defending champion Lizzie Deignan (Boels Dolmans), Lisa Brennauer (Canyon-SRAM) and Marianne Vos (WM3 Pro Cycling) -- for the '17 edition of the June race. The Women's Tour will take place from June 7-11, "with the race finishing in London for the first time." Deignan won last year's race, beating Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio by 11 seconds in the overall standings (CYCLING NEWS, 4/20).
