The Women's Tour in Britain, which forms part of the Int'l Cycling Union (UCI) Women's World Tour, will increase to six stages of racing for '19, according to the BBC. Launched in '14, the Tour -- won this year by American Coryn Rivera -- "has previously been run over five days." Its prize money "was increased to match that of the equivalent men's Tour earlier this year" (BBC, 9/21). CYCLING NEWS reported the women's version of the Tour of Britain "has steadily increased its reputation" since its first edition in '14, and can "now look forward to attracting even more interest from teams, fans and the media for what is already a hugely popular and successful event," having "already attracted 14 of the world's top 15 women's teams" in '18. Women's Tour Race Dir Mick Bennett said, "We are delighted to have been granted a sixth day of racing for the OVO Energy Women's Tour to build upon the success of the first five editions. Teams and riders have been asking us to extend the event and to broaden the range of stages, which the flexibility of a sixth day will enable us to do." British Cycling CEO Julie Harrington said, "This is fantastic news, both for the event and for women's cycling as a whole." Dates for the 2019 Women's Tour "have yet to be announced" (CYCLING NEWS, 9/21).
