The AJ Bell Women’s Tour peloton of around 100 pro-cyclists in Marston, Oxford
The first stage saw around 100 pro-cyclists – accompanied by support vehicles – race from Bicester, continuing through Oxford and Abingdon, to the finish in Banbury.
From the start line in Bicester, the race completed a short northern loop, passing secondary school students at The Cooper School, before heading south past Graven Hill to Islip and Oxford.
The peloton then swept down to The Plain then onto south Oxfordshire via Blackbird Leys. The stage will reach its southernmost point passing the Culham Science Centre before heading north through Abingdon, Eynsham, and Woodstock.
The riders passed through north Cherwell, taking in Hook Norton, Sibford Ferris and Broughton, arriving in Banbury for the first time. They then headed back out through Bloxham completing a short loop of parishes before returning to Banbury, where they passed the Cross and the Fine Lady statue on their way to a sprint to the line on South Bar Street.