Skip to content

Women's Tour: Hundreds line Suffolk streets for final leg

iStock Women's Tour on Old Barrack Road, WoodbridgeiStock
The event passed along Old Barrack Road in Woodbridge towards the latter stages of the day's race

Hundreds of people turned out to watch cyclists race in the final leg of the Women's Tour.

The 96-mile (155.3km) sixth stage of the event started in Haverhill and finished in Felixstowe, Suffolk.

It was won by world champion Elisa Balsamo, 23, from Italy, while Dutch rider Demi Vollering, 24, became the 2021 tour winner.

Peter Hodges, from the event organisers SweetSpot, said the tour always gets "a great reception in Suffolk".

The county last hosted the tour's final leg in 2014.

After setting off from Haverhill, the cyclists travelled through Long Melford, Needham Market and Clopton before finishing in Felixstowe.

Ian Duggan Women's Tour at Martlesham, SuffolkIan Duggan
The tour passed through Martlesham before eventually finishing in Felixstowe, where Elisa Balsamo claimed victory for the day
Paul Bird Women's Tour in Clayden, SuffolkPaul Bird
Spectators greeted the Women's Tour as it passed through Claydon in Suffolk

Mr Hodges said: "All of the towns' communities en route always turn out and support.

"We get a great reception in Suffolk. It's a beautiful county, the scenery is great."

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

Amy Hyde Parker, from the Long Melford organising committee, said the village used the event "as a great opportunity, after such a difficult 18 months, to bring everyone together and give something back".

Ian Duggan Women's Tour at Martlesham, SuffolkIan Duggan
Suffolk hosted the finish of the Women's Tour for the first time since 2014
presentational grey line

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]