WOMEN’S TOUR

STAGE 1 MONDAY, 4 OCTOBER

BICESTER ▸ BANBURY ▪ 147.6KM HILLS

After the race rolls out from the centre of Bicester don’t expect anything to be allowed to get away until after the first intermediate sprint just before Abingdon.

Any break that does then get away will be kept on a tight leash as the protagonists will want to be in control before Iron Down Hill which comes immediately before a final 30km loop which is likely to be all action.

There’s a second climb on that circuit, which is topped for the