The Tour of Britain Women back for 2026, and even bigger. The Tour de France Femmes was the last stop for the Women’s World Tour, so now the pros head to the U.K. Racing begins Wednesday.
The 2026 Tour of Britain Women
The five-stage race covers 635.8 km, making it the longest edition in the event’s 12-year history. The riders will rack up almost 8,900 metres of climbing, too. One Canuck will be there–sprinter extraordinaire Maggie Coles-Lyster from Human Powered Health. The WorldTour rider skipped this year’s Tour de France Femmes to do the Commonwealth Games–also in the U.K, Glasgow to be exact. There, she snagged bronze in the Elimination race. Startlists are pretty much final, but if more Canucks are added, Canadian Cycling Magazine will update that.
Stage 1: Cockermouth to Cockermouth, 158.9 km
The opening stage is also the longest. It takes the peloton along Cumbria’s coast through Whitehaven, Workington, Maryport and Silloth before turning inland towards the Lake District. Crosswinds could play a role along the exposed coast, while a short cobbled section in Silloth adds another wrinkle. With 1,913 m of climbing, it ain’t going to be an easy start.
Stage 2: Clitheroe to Blackpool, 110.5 km
The riders face the Forest of Bowland before heading towards the coast. The 1.9-km Nick o’ Pendle averages 7.6 per cent and should shake things up early, but the route eventually flattens out. A sprint on Blackpool’s famous promenade looks likely.
Stage 3: Mold to Great Orme, 104.7 km
The shortest stage could be the most important. After tackling the Clwydian Range, the peloton heads for Llandudno and the Great Orme. The final 2.5-km climb averages 6.1 per cent, with sections approaching 15 per cent. This is where the GC contenders should show themselves.
Stage 4: Llanidloes to Hay-on-Wye, 138 km
The hardest stage for climbing comes in Wales, with 2,484 metres of elevation gain. The Elan Valley climb is followed by a relentless run of rolling roads through the Welsh countryside before the finish in Hay-on-Wye.
Stage 5: Royal Leamington Spa to Royal Leamington Spa, 123.8 km
The final stage is the flattest, but it still packs in climbs including Sun Rising Hill and Burton Dassett Hills. After 636 km of racing, the overall winner will be crowned beside Jephson Gardens.
There are lots of big names racing, too. Several stars from the recent Tour de France Femmes will be on the start line, including stage winners Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx–Protime) and Kasia Niewiadoma, who finished second overall (CANYON//SRAM), as well as fifth-placed overall Paula Blasi (UAE Team L’IMAD).