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Women's Tour ends with sprint finish on Felixstowe seafront
Elisa Balsamo of Team Valcar-Travel & Service crosses the finish line to win stage six of the Women's Tour in Felixstowe - Credit: PA
A new champion of the Women's Tour has been crowned as the final stage of the race ended with a sprint finish in Felixstowe.
Hundreds of spectators lined the streets in Suffolk on Saturday to watch some of the world's best cyclists battle it out in the race's sixth stage.
The head of the race passes through Long Melford, near Sudbury - Credit: PA
Cyclists left Haverhill town centre in the morning before embarking on a route through towns such as Sudbury, Stowmarket, Needham Market and Woodbridge.
The race attracted hundreds of people cheering on the cyclists from the streets of Suffolk - Credit: PA
The 115km stage culminated in a sprint finish along Felixstowe seafront, with Valcar's Elisa Balsamo first over the line in the rainbow jersey.
The Women's Tour cyclists arrive in Sudbury during stage six. - Credit: Denise Bradley/Archant
Team SD Worx rider Demi Vollering was named the overall winner of the Women's Tour as a stage of the race was held in Suffolk for a sixth year.
Overall winner Demi Vollering toasts her victory - Credit: PA
Alice Barnes, of Canyon SRAM Racing, was the top British rider in seventh overall and one of three Brits in the top 10 - with Pfieffer Georgi of Team DSM in eighth and Joss Lowden from Drops Le Col s/b Tempur in 10th.
Two cyclists lead the pack in the Women's Tour as they arrive in Sudbury during stage six. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Denise Bradley/Archant
After clinching victory, Vollering said: "It feels great. It’s really nice to win a stage race for the first time.
Spectators watch the Women's Tour cyclists arrive in Sudbury during stage six. - Credit: Denise Bradley/Archant
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"I made a big gap in the time trial and then the last three days were flat so we tried to sprint for Amy [Pieters] and then we only needed to control it.
Spectators watch the Women's Tour cyclists arrive in Sudbury during stage six. - Credit: Denise Bradley/Archant
"It was a good week and really nice with a lot of people next to the road. It is always nice to see so many people into women’s cycling."
The Women's Tour cyclists arrive in Sudbury during stage six. - Credit: Denise Bradley/Archant
Balsamo said after winning the final stage: "We knew we were strong in the sprints but today was perfect. It’s wonderful. This was my first time at this race but I will definitely come here again."
The main pack of the Women's Tour cyclists in Stowmarket during stage six. - Credit: Denise Bradley/Archant
The fifth and penultimate stage of the race had been held on Friday over the border in north Essex, with riders cycling on a route from Colchester to Clacton.
The cyclists arriving in Coddenham - Credit: Anne Burton
In the past, the tour has provided a economic boost of an estimated £1million to Suffolk.
The leading pack riding through High Street in Wickham Market - Credit: Julie Harper
The 2022 Women's Tour is scheduled for next June, with the start of the race in Colchester.
It has not yet been revealed if Suffolk will host a stage of the race for a seventh year
