The UCI awards each event with one of four statuses ranging from World Tour events, such as the Tour de France, to the lowest tier of 2.2 category races.

Although it has only been allocated to the third category, the Tour of Britain will be among the highest rated women's races and will be on a par with the men's event won last month by the 2012 Tour de France champion Sir Bradley Wiggins.

The inaugural race next year will be held over five days separately to the men's Tour in September.

It will begin in Northamptonshire on Wednesday May 7, although the exact details of the route, as well as start and finish locations, are yet to be announced.

It is hoped that its status will, however, attract a high standard of competitor, perhaps including the winners of the road and time trial events at the recent World Road Championships in Florence in Dutch stars Marianne Vos and Ellen Van Dijk.

This will be alongside some of the highest profile British stars including London 2012 champions Laura Trott and Dani King, as well as a silver medallist on the road in Lizzie Armistead.

Laura Trott (right) and Lizzie Armistead are two home athletes who will be hoping to compete at the Tour of Britain next year


The announcement follows a surfeit of attention on the disparity between male and female events in the sport.

A petition begun by Marianne Vos, as well as the Beijing 2008 time trial silver medallist Emma Pooley, was launched to seek a women's Tour de France held alongside the men's events.

This move has not been realised but has certainly gained some support, with the new UCI President Brian Cookson admitting during his campaign that "talks were underway" regarding a women's tour.

Other cycling events in 2013 - such as the Ride London Grand Prix on the streets of London in August - have highlighted the popularity of holding events for women alongside their male counterparts.

Although this will not happen at the Tour of Britain, both its installation as well as its status with the UCI, represents a further boost.

There was no women's Tour of Britain in 2013 although a women's Grand Prix race in Westminster was held to coincide with the final day... it was won by British rider Hannah Barnes


Guy Elliot, director of Tour of Britain organisers SweetSpot, endorsed this view while expressing his satisfaction with the news.

"We are absolutely delighted that the UCI have awarded us 2.1 status for this exciting new event," he said.

"Our first stage, including the Grand Depart, will be based entirely in Northamptonshire, which is a fantastic county for racing."