TOUR DE YORKSHIRE Excitement is building after the key locations were announced that will host a start or finish line for the first ever Tour de Yorkshire international cycle race. Scarborough, Bridlington, Leeds, Selby, Wakefield and York will all host a prestigious start or finish of the new UCI-approved 2.1 Europe Tour race. The race which will be held on 1-3 May (Friday to Sunday) is expected to become a flagship cycling event in the UK in 2015 and an outstanding cycle race in the international calendar including the participation of top international teams. It will be broadcast live on national TV and throughout Europe. The Tour de Yorkshire is a new race being held by Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) and Welcome to Yorkshire (WTY) supported by British Cycling. A recent independent report found the Grand Depart of the Tour de France generated over £100m for the Yorkshire economy and we are confident this new race will further raise the profile of our county and attract visitors - helping businesses big and small. A mass sportive with several distances will be held on day three (3 May). The Tour de Yorkshire Ride is the unique opportunity for sportive riders in the UK to experience the Tour de France legacy and to pave the way for the pro riders. The sportive will take place on the same day and roads as the 3rd and final stage of the Tour de Yorkshire pro ride. Some of the riders and roads used were also in action at the Yorkshire Grand Depart 2014. Three distances and a women only Cycletta will also be available. We are proud to announce details of the first ever Tour de Yorkshire Stage 1 on Friday 1st May will start in Bridlington and finish in Scarborough - 174km Stage 2 on Saturday 2nd May will start in Selby and finish in York - 174km Stage 3 on Sunday 3rd May will start in Wakefield and finish in Leeds - 167km Stage 1 will start in the seaside town of Bridlington and 174km later finish further up the coast in Scarborough. The riders, from all over the world, will pass through spectacular coastal scenery and the iconic North York Moors landscapes. From the start line in Bridlington the riders will head along the Flamborough Head Heritage Coast before turning away from the coast into the North York Moors National Park, through Dalby Forest and towards Pickering. They’ll then take a spectacular journey back to the coast at Whitby, and then south to Robin Hood’s Bay with the ultimate race to the finish line on the seafront at Scarborough. Stage 2 will see the race start outside the imposing Selby Abbey. The route takes in much of the Yorkshire Wolds, and from Selby will take the peloton towards Market Weighton, through North Newbald and on to Beverley, where they will turn north to Malton, then on to Stamford Bridge. Spectators will have the chance to see a circuit of York and organisers are hoping for a dramatic finish in the city. And as part of the legacy of the Tour de France to get more women cycling there will also be a dedicated women’s event on a circuit through York on day 2, the 2nd May. Stage 3 will see the peloton make a return to some of the roads raced in the 2014 Yorkshire Grand Départ of the Tour de France, only with a twist; starting in Wakefield, riders will travel south to Barnsley before heading to Holmfirth where they pick up the Grand Départ route in reverse, racing to Ripponden before riding the iconic Cragg Vale – which in the Tour de France was the country’s longest continual climb and now becomes the longest continual descent. The riders will then make their way to Hebden Bridge, Oxenhope and through the famous cobbled streets of Haworth, one of the most iconic images of the Tour de France in Yorkshire. After a steep climb at Goose Eye the riders will once again see Ilkley, with the famous climb up the Cow & Calf before a sprint point at Arthington and then what is expected to be a hugely popular finish line in Roundhay Park in Leeds. Many in the media are already dubbing it as one of the biggest and most exciting cycling events in the UK in 2015 and we hope you will be part of it. The race will start around midday each day; we will be issuing more detailed timings shortly, and you can watch anywhere along the route for free. It will also be shown live on television in the UK and across Europe and a huge television audience is expected, once again shining a spotlight on Yorkshire. Amateur cyclists can also take part in the Tour de Yorkshire Ride, a mass participation bike ride which promises to be one of the most challenging and popular sportives in the British calendar. Organised by Human Race, it will take place before the pro race on the morning of the final day, Sunday 3rd May and thousands are expected to take part. You can register here, more details will be released next week. Welcome to Yorkshire is also organising a month long Tour de Yorkshire Festival from 1 April to 3 May 2015 to showcase the county’s rich and diverse cultural offering. The Yorkshire Festival, which accompanied the Tour de France Grand Départ, will be held in 2016.
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 16:03:09 +0000
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