UCI America Tour cycling event the Tour of California is set to add a second competitive race for women at its 2014 running, according to the event’s executive director Kristin Bachochin.
Bachochin told ESPN.com that cycling component manufacturer SRAM has agreed to sponsor a women’s race at Capitol in Sacramento on May 11, the opening day of this year’s eight-day men’s competition. A women’s time trial across the same course used by the men would be staged the following day in Folsom, California, with a similar event having taken place for the past three years.
The proposals are for a field of between 60 and 80 professional riders to take part in the initial hour-long race on a 1.25-mile circuit in Capitol before 20 invited cyclists take part in the subsequent time trial for prize money totalling $20,000 (€14,800) over the two days.
"It has always been our priority to create a race that promotes both men's and women's cycling as well as how cycling is beneficial to a well-rounded, healthy lifestyle for the entire family," Bachochin said. "We are very pleased that with both the sponsorship commitment from SRAM and other logistical factors, we now have the ability to add a second day of women's racing in 2014."
Full course details for the women's races will be announced this week. The development follows the confirmation earlier this month that Tour de France organiser Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) will launch a one-day women’s race to coincide with the finale of this year’s cycling showpiece on July 27 in Paris. Fellow grand tour the Vuelta a España last week confirmed plans to establish a women’s race for 2015.
