Shipston cyclists had extra reason to cheer Women's Tour at Chipping Norton

Grace Brown joined by Shipston Cycling Club members in Chipping Norton town centre. Andy Smith can been seen behind Grace – third from the left.

The final stage of last month’s event saw cyclists head out from Chippy and head for Oxford, heralding a proud moment for the chairman of the Shipston club.

Not only were two SCC members selected to lead the stage out onto the open roads of the Cotswolds - Andy Smith’s daughter-in-law, Grace Brown, was wearing the race leader’s yellow jersey.

He said: “It was always going to be special to see Grace ride on the roads we regularly cover with the club, but to see her doing so in the yellow jersey made it an extra proud day – both for my family and the whole club”.

Grace, riding for the French FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope team, finished the race second overall following a nail-biting sprint finish in Oxford.

Posting on Instagram after the stage, Grace said “What a crazy and exciting race! A big thank you to everyone that came out to cheer me on the roads. I heard my name shouted so many times!”

Andy added: “It was great to have Jan Spalding and Becky Babbage leading out the stage. We’ve seen more and more female members join the club over the past few years, and our women-only rides continue throughout the summer.”

More information on the club can be found at www.shipstoncycling.co.uk or on social media at www.facebook.com/ShipstonCycling