British teams poised for WorldTour test at Tour of Britain

Continental squads looking to shine on home roads

- Tom Davidson

Britain’s domestic teams are looking to “bring their A-game” at the Tour of Britain Women this week as they pit themselves against the big-budget squads of the WorldTour.

All five of the country’s Continental teams - CJ O'Shea Racing, DAS-Hutchinson, Handsling Alba Development Road Team, Hess, and Smurfit Westrock - will compete in the four-day race, which starts today in Dalby Forest and finishes in Glasgow on Sunday.

For the British squads, none of which are professional, the event is a valuable chance to show off sponsors and gain experience against some of the best riders in the world.

“It’s big and it’s stressful and it’s going to be absolutely mad,” says Smurfit rider Lucy Harris, “but it’s an incredible opportunity at the same time. You have to make the most of it.”