The UCI has released its official women’s WorldTour calendar for 2022 and there are a few things that caught our eye.
With 22 events, including a total of 10 stage races, the event that caught the headlines was that of the returning women’s Tour de France. Set to be organised by ASO, it will be an eight-day race taking place one week after the men’s race from 24th July to 31st July – replacing the exisiting one-day La Course.
But the eagle-eyed among you will have noticed the return of the RideLondon Classique, traditionally a one-day race in the UK that has historically offered the biggest prize pot in women’s cycling. However, for 2022, it looks as if the RideLondon Classique will become a stage race with its dates pencilled in for 27th to 29th May, moving from its usual August slot.
This joins the Women’s Tour, scheduled from 6th to 11th June, as the second women’s WorldTour stage race to be taking place on British shores next year, making two more than there are men’s WorldTour events.
Beyond racing in the UK, the Giro d’Italia – commonly known as the Giro Rosa – has returned to WorldTour status having been downgraded to 2.1 status for 2021. Running from 1st to 10th July, it will precede the inaugural women’s Tour de France by two weeks.
The Ladies Tour of Norway has been renamed the Battle of the North, upping from four stages to six, while the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta in September adds a fourth stage. There is also a return for the Postnord Vårgårda WestSweden road race and time-trial on 6th and 7th August.
Women’s WorldTour races 2022
3rd March – Strade Bianche
13th March – Ronde van Drenthe
20th March – Trofeo Alfredo Binda – Comune di Cittiglio
24th March – Oxyclean Classic Brugge-De Panne
27th March – Gent-Wevelgem In Flanders Fields
3rd April – Ronde van Vlaanderen – Tour des Flandres
10th April – Paris-Roubaix Femmes
17th April – Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition
20th April – La Flèche Wallonne Féminine
24th April – Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes
5th-7th May – Tour of Chongming Island
13th-15th May – Itzulia Women
19th-22nd May – Vuelta a Burgos Feminas
27th-29th May – RideLondon Classique
6th-11th June – Women’s Tour
1st-10th July – Giro d’Italia Donne
24th-31st July – Tour de France Femmes
6th August – Postnord Vårgårda WestSweden TTT
7th August – Postnord Vårgårda WestSweden RR
9th-14th August – Battle of the North
27th August – GP Lorient Agglomération – Trophée Ceratizit
30th August – September 4 Boels Ladies Tour
8th-11th September – Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta
18th October – Tour of Guangxi