Not just any women’s cycling race, the Tour of America Premier Women’s Cycling Race is a multi-stage elite women’s competition envisioned to become the women’s counterpart to the Tour de France. Our goal is to hold the inaugural race in the summer of 2024 in the northeast region of North America. It will be a five or six stage race in its first year and part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour upon sanctioning by USA Cycling and the UCI (Cycling’s international federation).
In later years, the race will grow to up to 12 stages and rotate to different regions of the United States and Canada. Each year, a new set of cities and towns will have the privilege of hosting the world’s elite women cyclists in what will one day be an annual tradition, a race that will be watched by millions in person and tens of millions around the world – it is the women’s cycling race that we’ve all been waiting for: The Tour of America. Take a look at our video:
Our video provides a fresh overview of our vision and goals, although it is in need of a few updates: David Lappartient is the current President of the UCI, and Kristin Armstrong won her third gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games!
The Tour of America Business Model – Not Just a Cycling Race
As an elite women’s cycling race, the Tour of America will address many of the financial challenges common to so many cycling races by identifying new and creative sources of revenue. In addition to the conventional revenue streams of sponsorship, broadcast, licensing and merchandise, The Tour of America will also include:
- Mass participation events that precede the elite competition, allowing families and amateur riders of all ages to ride the finishing miles of each stage as part of a race or ride. A portion of the proceeds from entry fees will be donated to local non-profits.
- Ancillary events – festivals, concerts and other activities will be integrated into the event at the host cities and towns, giving our hosts the chance to promote and celebrate their unique qualities.
- Hosting Fee Revenue and Value-in-Kind Contributions – As the event builds awareness and equity over time, cities, states and towns will bid and compete for the rights to host stages of the race. Competitive host city bids will help us control costs by providing athlete accommodations and operational services.
- A Recognizable National Brand – A perennial challenge for even the most well-established cycling races is the difficulty delivering broad value to commercial partners due to the geographical limitations of the event brand. The Tour of America offers a bold national brand intended to embody the best traditions and values of our country – something with which national and international brands are eager to associate
- A Powerful Social Platform – The Tour of America will be much more than just a women’s cycling race. Our passionate belief in worldwide women’s empowerment and gender equality provides an opportunity for meaningful engagement with the full range of our stakeholders: sponsors, broadcasters, athletes, government leaders, activists, thought leaders, educators, corporate recruiters, cultural icons and most importantly, the young girls in every corner of the world in need of the inspiration that this event can provide.