Women's Tour spectator numbers up 22%, report Northamptonshire Council

Crowds of 67,500 turned out to watch stage three of the Aviva Women's Tour in Northamptonshire, generating £1m for the county's economy

Christine Majerus on stage two of the Women's Tour (Andy Jones)

(Image credit: Andy Jones 2014)

Crowds turned out in their thousands to watch the second edition of the Aviva Women's Tour pass through Northamptonshire this year, with spectator numbers up 12,500 on last year.

A total 67,500 people took to the streets in the county in June as stage three saw riders travel between Oundle and Kettering - up on the 55,000 people who watched in 2014.

The crowd numbers saw the economic benefit to the county top £1m, according to an independent report, with visitors and media spending money of food, accommodation and merchandise.

County council deputy leader Heather Smith said, reported in the Northants Telegraph: “It’s wonderful to learn that this year’s Aviva Women’s Tour attracted so many more people to Northamptonshire to watch the event.

“We brought this event to the county for the second year running not only for local people to watch and enjoy but also to put Northamptonshire on the map and showcase what our beautiful county has to offer – and this year’s race did just that.

“We’ve already announced that the Women’s Tour will be returning to Northamptonshire for the next two years, so I look forward to seeing the event grow and grow in the coming years.”

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Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.