The founder of a Marlow cycling club says the announcement of a major cycling tour in the town will be "superb" in boosting uptake for the sport.

It was announced this week that the final stage of the Friends Life Women's Tour will set off from Marlow on June 21 before snaking its way through the Chilterns.

It will mark the first occasion that the tour has visited Marlow, and build on the successful stage six of the men's Tour of Britain which came through the Chilterns in September.

Rod Woodland, chairman of the 170-member Marlow Riders club, said he is looking forward to the spectacle as some of the world's best cyclists descend on Marlow.

He said: "I think it’s an absolutely great idea, and it will encourage more ladies to take up cycling. We already have lots of ladies in the club.

“For us it will be superb, and it will be great to see all these top cyclists in the town, we’ll all have a great time.

“I went [to the men's tour] and to see all those guys cycling, it’s worlds apart from what we do and the speed they travel is amazing.

"The whole spectacle and the razzmatazz of it all, it’s great for Marlow."

Last year’s Women’s Tour featured stars including London 2012 medallist Lizzie Armitstead, and was won by Dutch rider Marianne Vos.

Race organisers describe the new route - which will be confirmed in detail in the spring - as "testing and challenging".

Mr Woodland - whose club organise the Red Kite Ride from Marlow each year - said he believes Bisham Abbey would be the ideal spot to kick off the Marlow stage.

For more information, visit www.womenstour.co.uk/news