Matrix Fitness is extending its support of a prestigious women’s cycling tour by sponsoring the ‘Best Young Rider’ jersey. The prize goes to the top under-23 competitor in the five-stage race, which is also sponsored by Matrix.

The newly renamed Matrix Grand Prix Series (formerly the Johnson Health Tech GP Series) is currently in progress, and features stops at Stoke-on-Trent, Peterborough, Edinburgh and Redditch before concluding in Woking on Tuesday 10 June. The tour runs alongside the men’s Pearl Izumi Tour Series event.

Jon Johnston, managing director of Matrix Fitness, said the decision to extend the company’s sponsorship was based on a desire to address an imbalance in the number of young women aged 16-24 achieving recommended levels of physical activity compared to young men – the Health Survey for England 2012 put the failure rate at 43 per cent and 17 per cent respectively.

He said: “As a stakeholder in the fitness industry, we are proud to be able to help address this imbalance by supporting under-23 female riders through the Matrix Fitness–Vulpine team and the tour events, promoting positive, healthy role models for young women; particularly as research suggests that those who become active between the ages of 16 and 29 are more likely to maintain these levels of activity into later adulthood.”