A PRESTIGIOUS cycling event is coming to a south Oxfordshire town this summer.

It was revealed today Henley will be the start location for stage three of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour professional cycling race.

The town will host a Big Bike Breakfast on the morning of the race – Wednesday, June 12.

Oxford Mail:

Crowds will line the streets, cheering around 100 riders as they set off on the 145 kilometre-leg that will finish outside Blenheim Palace.

Oxfordshire’s race section will start from Market Place in the centre of Henley.

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It was revealed last month that a stage of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour, the UK’s most prestigious women’s cycle race, had been agreed to pedal through the county for the next three years.

From Henley, stage three will traverse the Chilterns via Pishill to Watlington, before returning via the climb of Britwell Hill to Sonning Common and Goring.

Oxford Mail:

Crossing the River Thames at Wallingford, the route will pass through Didcot, Harwell and Wantage, crossing the Vale of White Horse to Faringdon, before looping through the West Oxfordshire towns of Burford, Charlbury and finally Woodstock in the closing kilometres.

Highlights of the race will also be screened on ITV4.

Yvonne Rees, chief executive of Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Women’s Tour to Oxfordshire, with a start in Henley, a tour of our fantastic countryside."

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Mark Stone, chief executive of South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse District Councils added: “This is wonderful news for residents and businesses in Henley and across our two districts – the economic benefits will be significant.

The OVO Energy Women’s Tour is Britain’s longest-running professional women’s race and part of the prestigious UCI Women’s World Tour series.

The 2019 OVO Energy Women’s Tour will begin in Suffolk on Monday, June 10.