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Following trends of increased female participation in sport across the UK, the Marie Curie Cancer Care Etape Caledonia has recently announced it has experienced a surge in the number of females registering to take part in 2015. 

With a six per cent increase in the last three years alone, twenty per cent of the riders taking part in the upcoming event will be female. 

The closed road sportive, taking place on 10 May 2015, is historically a male dominated event, but the entry data reports a shift in its gender demographic from roughly one in seven females in 2013, to one in five in 2015. This increase is reflected in statistics from Scottish Cycling who report the number of females taking part in cycling events throughout Scotland has increased an incredible 35% from 2013-2014. 

Vicky Strange, Scottish Cycling's Head of Development said: "I am delighted to hear that the Marie Curie Cancer Care Etape Caledonia has seen an increase in female participants year on year, this echoes what we have seen right across the country. The increase across the board confirms women's opportunities to get involved with cycling are really going from strength to strength in Scotland." 

Nicole Cooke MBE, Olympic Gold Medallist and World Road Race Champion commented: "Sportives like the Marie Curie Cancer Care Etape Caledonia offer a challenge to all cyclists, whether it's to complete a challenging course, enjoy the spectacular countryside, a chance to ride with friends or to better your time." 

She continued: "There are certainly a lot more riders on the roads compared to 10 years ago and the cycling industry reflects this with companies offering women's specific clothing, bikes and components, and a number of exciting new companies that cater solely for the female cyclist." 

James Robinson, Managing Director of event organisers IMG Challenger World added: "It's fantastic to see that we will have an even bigger field of female cyclists riding with us in 2015 and that the success of the event is contributing to increased female participation across Scotland as a whole." 

Taking place on 10 May 2015, the Marie Curie Cancer Care Etape Caledonia is regarded as a 'bucket list' event for many. Credited as the first closed road sportive in the UK, the event has gone from strength to strength - selling out in less than three days and attracting 5,000 cyclists to stunning Perthshire each year. 

General entries have sold out, but a limited amount of Charity Pledge Places are still available to raise funds for Marie Curie, prospective participants should visit www.etapecaledonia.co.uk to book their entries now.