\n<\/p>\n
Olympic medallists Elinor Barker and Lizzie Deignan will headline Great Britain’s six-strong team for this year’s Tour of Britain Women. <\/b><\/p>\n
Deignan, 35, and Barker, 29, will be joined by Elynor Backstedt, Anna Henderson, Millie Couzens and Flora Perkins. <\/p>\n
Wales will host the first two stages of the race, which starts on 6 June, with the event ending in Leigh, Greater Manchester on 9 June. <\/p>\n
Welsh cyclist Barker, who won gold in the women’s team pursuit at the Rio Games in 2016, said it will be “incredibly special to race on home soil”.<\/p>\n
The seven-time world track champion added: “The energy and support from the crowds is unparalleled. <\/p>\n
“For me personally, I am particularly excited that two of the stages will be hosted in Wales on some iconic roads, which will undoubtedly make for a challenging and competitive race.” <\/p>\n
The first edition under the race’s new name – previously known solely as the Women’s Tour – will begin in Welshpool, with stage one ending in Llandudno.<\/p>\n
Teams will go through Wrexham on day two, with the third stage starting in Warrington before the race concludes in Greater Manchester. <\/p>\n
The Women’s Tour was cancelled in 2023<\/a> after organisers failed to find the funding required for the race.<\/p>\n Deignan, who took silver at the London Olympics in 2012, won the Women\u2019s Tour in 2016 and 2019 and last month said she was “really grateful”<\/a> to British Cycling for bringing the event back “against the odds”. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n