Organisers extend Tour de Yorkshire invite to omitted team

The Yorkshire team omitted from the Asda Tour de Yorkshire women’s race start list has been handed a late invitation by race organisers. Team Jadan-Weldtite manager Victoria Hood says the team are ‘delighted’ that they will now have an opportunity to race in their home county on Saturday April 30.

Hood had questioned whether organisers had done their homework when inviting women’s teams, noting that Les Filles, for whom the race’s defending champion Louise Mahe now rides, had also not featured in the race’s initial list of participating teams.

Jadan-Weldtite will now join Les Filles on the start line and Hood hopes that her team can help the women’s race go from strength to strength in coming years.

“The team are delighted to be offered a place in the Tour. We thank everyone who has supported us and helped our voices to be heard. We work hard to develop our riders from youth level upwards and it's exciting for our girls to be given this opportunity.

“As more girls come into cycling, teams are making the step up to this level, domestic teams are becoming more professional, the riders more skilful and hopefully with this momentum it won't take long before the women have a comparable event to the men’s three-day tour. When that happens Team Jadan Weldtite will be ready on the start line.”

The women’s Tour de Yorkshire will take place on the same course as stage two of the men’s race which is being held later the same day. The 135km route runs from Otley to Doncaster.

Asda’s sponsorship has given rise to a total prize fund that tops £50,000 and the race will be shown live on both ITV4 and Eurosport.