Official Women's Tour route announced for Southend

The fourth stage of the Women’s Tour is due to be held in south Essex for later this year.

Bosses were forced to reschedule this year’s event for October after the initial dates in June were moved due to Covid restrictions.

Organisers have now announced the official route of the fourth stage of the race, which will start from East Beach in Shoebury.

It will then head north to Little Wakering before turning west onto Great Wakering and up to Rochford.

Competitors will pass through Great Stambridge, Canewdon, Ashingdon and onto Battlesbridge before they will then complete a circuit of the Maldon district.

They will eventually be brought back to Battlesbridge where they will head south through Rawreth and onto Rayleigh, onwards to Leigh, down through Chawkwell and finally crossing the line on Western Esplanade in Westcliff.

The route is approximately 117.5km long and it is the first time one of the stages of The Women's Tour will be held in Southend.

Organisers have announced a VIP package for race fans through a ‘breakfast club’ in Shobeury ahead of the event, where you will get the chance to meet some of the riders and listen to interviews.

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You can also sign up to the Tour Enclosure package which provides a prime viewing location near the finishing line, a complimentary buffet, access to a bar and big screens to watch the race on.

The Women’s Tour gets underway in Oxfordshire on October 4 and will arrive in Southend on October 7.

The fifth stage will be held in Colchester and Clacton the day after.

The event will start in Oxfordshire on October 4 where racers will visit Walsall and Atherstone before arriving in Southend.

Speaking last month about the race coming to Southend, the council’s tourism boss Carole Mulroney said: "This is a fantastic event which will bring some of the world’s best cyclists here and is certain to be exhilarating.

“I hope that by hosting this event, young people in the area will find and grow a passion for cycling, and I cannot wait to welcome the riders to the borough.”