Greater Manchester will host the final leg of the Women’s Tour of Great Britain

The European Capital of Cycling will host the final stage, with the finish line in Leigh

Greater Manchester hosts the final stage of the Women’s Tour of Great Britain today.

The city-region has been designated the first European capital of cycling for 2024.

It is expected to be a fast and flat race to the finish line to see who will be crowned the overall race winner.

“We are not just part of the race. We’re running the race.”

Great Britain Cycling will field a team of six, including former road world champion and 2016 and 2019 Women’s Tour winner Lizzie Deignan and Olympic gold medalist and seven-time world track champion Elinor Barker.

In addition to Barker, Wales will be represented by Elynor Bäckstedt, while Anna Henderson, Millie Couzens and Flora Perkins complete the line-up.

“It feels like a strong team that we have here where we can make an impact.

“We are not just part of the race. We’re running the race,” says Flora Perkins.

Perkins lived in Manchester last year and told us how excited she is to finish in the region.

She said: “It’s nice to finish in the city, I think there will be a bit of noise.

“People want to come and watch, you see school kids watching, which has always been a sign of this race that has followed it in the past.

“It’s really cool to finish in Manchester as I lived there last year and missed it so I’m really keen to go.”

The race was divided into four stages:

The Tour set off from the heart of Wales and since then the riders have faced a formidable and challenging ride with 2,276m of climbing to endure in the opening stage alone.

The second leg of the race started and finished on Chester Street in Wrexham town centre, and then the third leg started and finished in front of the iconic Golden Gate at Warrington Town Hall.

From here the cyclists immediately headed south, crossing the River Mersey and the Great Manchester Canal.

Flora Perkins has competed in many different competitions, in the UK and abroad. She told us some of the differences here compared to the challenges abroad.

Perkins said: “It’s a bit more aggressive racing. It’s tight so you’re fighting for position but there’s a lot of inside teams as well.”

The 20-year-old also believes that women’s cycling has grown in Britain.

She said: “There are more women’s races that used to be on a bigger scale and there are more continental teams registered. So, I think it’s very interesting.”

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