Watch extended highlights from all six stages of the Women's Tour available each morning via SBS On Demand from October 5-10.
And from October 4, the SBS team of Kate Bates, Gracie Elvin and Christophe Mallet will preview and review all the action from the Women's Tour, including checking in with the riders and providing analysis throughout the event, daily at 1:30pm (AEDT) LIVE on Cycling Central and .
The race is now in its seventh edition and will, for the first time, include an individual time trial along with a kermesse-style stage during the six-day race.
It will be a mostly flat to undulating terrain set to promote attacking racing and make for a wide-open race that could come down to seconds as the world-class field pursues the overall victory.
The route takes in central and eastern England this year, and will include some breath-taking vistas as the race heads to the eastern coast and showcases the beauty of Suffolk.
Women's Tour, 2021 map Source: Women's Tour
While there was originally going to be live coverage of the event, this has been scaled back by organisers, and instead, there will be extended highlights available each morning via SBS On Demand and a final event wrap on Sunday, October 17 on SBS from 3pm (AEDT).
Stage 1 - Bicester to Banbury - 147.7 km
The Women’s Tour will begin in the Bicester’s Market Square, which comprises part of its historic town trail, before riders eventually head north to finish in the market town of Banbury, which lies on the River Cherwell.
The punchy climbs en route could promote attacking racing though it's unlikely to be pure climbers that take the win at the finish in Banbury.
Stage 2 - Walsall Kermesse - 102 km
Stage two will start at the Walsall Arboretum, the area’s famous Victorian park, and culminate with a finish on Lichfield Street in the heart of the town and in the shadows of Walsall Town Hall.
However, action aplenty is guaranteed on the 10-kilometre clockwise circuit around Hayhead Woods, Barr Beacon nature reserve and Pool Green that will be tackled 10 times.
The Barr Beacon climb (1.2km long, maximum gradient of 5.7%) is the main feature of difficulty of the route, though it will be more of an accumulation of climbing than any one ascent that will prove to be the main difficulty of the kermesse-style course.
Stage 3 - Atherstone Individual Time Trial - 16.6 km
This stage is set to be the first individual time trial held after the UCI World Championships in Flanders, Belgium, meaning fans will get to see the newly-crowned world champion and confirmed starter, Ellen van Dijk, tackle the route in the legendary rainbow jersey.
Stage 4-Shoeburyness to Southend-on-Sea -117.8 km
It's off for the coast as Stage 4 will see riders set off from East Beach, Shoeburyness, then head out into the rural roads of Essex before reaching the finish line along the seafront in Westcliff.
Stage 5- Colchester to Clacton - 95.4 km
Clacton will host its third stage finish in Women’s Tour history this year. Marianne Vos, the Women’s Tour first-ever champion, won along the seaside resort’s promenade during the inaugural 2014 event, before Belgian Jolien D’hoore triumphed there the following year.
Stage 6- Haverhill to Felixstowe - 155.5 km
This monster of a stage will conclude the racing at the Women's Tour, and give any teams or riders vying for ultimate success a last throw of the dice as the race finishes in Felixstowe.
Haverhill is new to the Women’s Tour while Felixstowe – which appeared in the inaugural edition of the race seven years ago – will host its first stage finish.
, with Australians Chloe Hosking, Sarah Roy and Jessica Allen all expected to compete on the roads of England, alongside reigning world champions Elisa Balsamo (Valcar - Travel and Service) and Ellen van Dijk (Trek-Segafredo).
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