The inaugural Women's Tour of Scotland is set to kick off in Dundee on Friday. With three days, three stages and 350km across Scotland to cover, it's set to be an exciting and inspiring weekend for women's racing. Here is everything you need to know about the event.

The Teams

Scottish Cycling are thrilled to have a Scotland Team included in the race featuring Katie Archibald, Jen George, Jenny Holl, Neah Evans, Sophie Lankford and Anna Shackley.

On racing as part of the Scotland Team, Commonwealth Games medalist Neah Evans said: "It’s always special racing in Scottish kit and this is magnified further, when the race is in Scotland. Having a UCI race use some of my old training roads is partly bizarre and fantastic, I’m excited to be part of this great event."

The Route

The route takes in some of Scotland most famous roads and has something to challenge every type of rider. With sprints, mountain and the overall general classification prizes on offer, it's going to be an animated race from the flag dropping through to the sprint for the finish.

Stage 1 Friday 9^th August

Start: 12:15 – Dundee

Finish: 15:00 – Dunfermline

Distance: 103kms

Stage 1 looks very straight forward on paper with the General Classification (GC) contenders unlikely to lose too much time.

The first sprint of the race comes at Cupar which offers a prime position for spectators to catch a glimpse of the riders, with the sprinters looking to take the first points of the day in the battle for the Motorola sprints jersey.

The second Queen of the Mountains climb that day, The Cleish, could well make things interesting and comes with only 15km to go. Fans watching on the climb could well see any riders with aspirations to win the Leaders Jersey looking to attack in a bid to take any small advantage they can.

This could see the end of the stage result in a small bunch sprint, or some riders attacking in a bid to breakaway and finish alone in to the streets of Dunfermline.

Estimated times and places to catch the race on day one:

12.15 – Race depart time
12.51 – Sprint 1 Cupar 20.8 km
13.24 – QOM 1 Grange of Lindores 45km
13.38 – Sprint 2 Falkland 54.9km
13.45 – Feed Zone, Leslie 62.6km
13.58 – Sprint 3 Leslie 65.3km
14.23 – QOM 2 Cleish Hill 87.2km
14.45 – Race arrival Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline

Stage 2 - Saturday 10^th August 2019

Start: 11:15 - Glasgow

Finish: 15:00 – Perth

Distance: 139.4kms

This stage could prove to be a very tactical race with a lot of the GC teams plotting how to take advantage of the early major climb – the Duke’s Pass. It’s an ascent lasting 4km at an average gradient of 6%, with steep sections of up to 15% in the first 2km out of Aberfoyle.

It offers any team with the opportunity to make amends from time lost on stage one and attack early. Duke’s Pass will be the perfect place to catch the best of the action from Stage 2 after the riders leave the festivities of Glasgow behind them.

Despite inevitable attacks off the front of the peloton when the race hits Aberfoyle and the climb itself, having the best part of 100km still left to race means any breakaway will need to be incredibly strong to hold off the chasing pack.

The large crowds anticipated to be watching the finish in Perth can expect an almighty bunch sprint with the sprinters team vying for success.

Key times and places to catch the race on day two:

11.15 – Race depart in George Square, Glasgow
12.07 – Sprint 1 Aberfoyle 37.8 km
12.10 – QOM Duke’s Pass 45km
12.42 – Feed zone at Strathyre Cabins 62.7km
12.54 – Sprint 2 Strathyre 71.4km
13.49 – Sprint 3 Crieff 110.4km
14.28 – Race arrival opposite City Chambers 138.7km

Stage 3 - Sunday 11th August 2019

Start: 10:30 - Edinburgh

Finish: 15:00 – Edinburgh

Distance: 118.3kms

The final stage of the race takes us deep into the Scottish borders with the terrain throwing up both beauty and brutality.

With several uncategorised climbs and wide-open roads threatening possible echelons and strong winds, this will be a stage where vigilance and energy saving will be paramount. The long dragging climb of The Mound which then comes with around 50km to the finish, looks sure to offer the main obstacle to any lead developed by the woman wearing yellow.

The overall leader is likely to have attacks from her challengers before the race plummets it way towards the gruelling three strong lap finishing circuit of Holyrood Park, where the riders can hope to expect a carnival atmosphere.

Key times and places to catch the race on day three:

10.28 – Race depart time from Holyrood Park
11.48 – Feed zone Glentress 44.5
11.57 – Sprint 1 Innerleithen 51.2 km
12.23 – QOM 1 TheMound/Granites 70.4km
12.50 – Sprint 2 Bonnyrigg 89.9km
13.06 – Sprint 3 Holyrood Park,Queens drive 101.8km
13.07 – QOM 2/3/4 Arthurs seat finish line 103/108/113km
13.28 – Race arrival in QOM Summit passage 4 117.4km

The Women’s Tour of Scotland will culminate in a free family day at Holyrood Park to be enjoyed by all. The peloton will be led out by a group of women cyclists from around Scotland and youth races will take place while the women are out on the course. Lots of other activities are going to be taking place for everyone to get involved in.

Sign up for Race the Volcano HERE

Get Involved

Show your support for the riders by getting out on the route and cheering them on as they pass.

Remember to Tweet @ScottishCycling #WTOS to share where you are.

Follow @WomensTourScot for the latest information on the Women's Tour of Scotland

Follow @ScottishCycling on Twitter and Instagram for daily updates and to see behind the scenes of the Scotland Team as they prepare for the race.