Wrexham and Welshpool will host the fourth stage of this year's Women's Tour, race organizers announced today.

Stage 4 will start in Wrexham, which aims to become the British City of Culture in 2025. From there, the 143-km route will pass through Ruabon, the Chirk Aqueduct, and into the city center of Welshpool.

This year's women's tour will start in Colchester on June 6 and finish in the city center of Oxford six days later. Last year, Demi Vollaring (SD Works) took the leader's jersey in the individual time trial on stage 3 and went on to win the overall.

"Wrexham is delighted to be hosting part of this prestigious cycling tour," said Ian Bancroft, chief executive of Wrexham Borough Council.

"Being a finalist in the UK City of Culture 2025 competition has created a lot of excitement in the county.

The next day, the race will move to Carmarthenshire, which has regularly appeared on the route of the men's Tour of Britain and women's Tour since 2018. The terrain in the area makes bike racing difficult, with stage 5 including the most elevation gain of the event at 2,065 meters.

The stage will finish atop Black Mountain in the Brecon Beacons National Park. This will be the second hilltop finish in Women's Tour history after being challenged on the final day of the 2019 competition. Black Mountain is 7.2 km long with an average gradient of 5.3%, but reaching 21% in some places.

"The Welsh stage of this year's Women's Tour will play an important role in determining the next champion," said Women's Tour race director Mick Bennett.

"Both will provide a real test of mettle for the world's best riders and the thrilling racing will take place in front of some of the most spectacular scenery Britain has to offer. We are grateful to all parties, including the Welsh Government, for their continued support of the Women's Tour."

The nightly highlight shows will be broadcast in the UK via ITV and worldwide via Eurosport and GCN, but the race organizers, Sweet Spot, are still working to secure the necessary funding to provide live television coverage

The race will be broadcast on Eurosport and GCN.