On 23 August the Tour of Britain Women arrived in Wales, marking the first time two of its five stages run through the country. Stage 3 will cover 104.7 km from Mold to the iconic Great Orme in Llandudno, while Stage 4 will tackle 138.3 km from Llanidloes to Hay‑on‑Wye, featuring the toughest climbs and a total ascent of 2,280 m. Mold hosts the stage start for the first time, adding a historic touch.

Welsh fans get to see homegrown talent alongside the world’s best. 21‑year‑old Zoe Backstedt, who finished 50th in her first Tour de France Femmes, enters Stage 3 in 51st, 2 min 48 s behind Lorena Wiebes. The Canyon‑SRAM rider has already claimed British titles and a Tour de Suisse stage, and she will race with sister Elynor (UAE Team L'IMAD) and father Magnus, now a sport director for Human Powered Health.

The race has grown from four to five days, but media coverage still lags behind the men’s event. After the tragic death of 19‑year‑old Finlay Tarling, riders wore black armbands and the race used rolling roadblocks to increase safety, a reminder that safety remains paramount in high‑speed road racing.