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Bike shops now have a better idea how close the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire will pass to their businesses.
While the exact route will be revealed on January 21st – 100 days till the race begins – the UCI approved 2.1 race, we know as of today that the Tour will pass through Bridlington, Leeds, Scarborough, Selby, Wakefield and York. Those cities and towns will each host a start of finish of the Tour.
The race, which will be held over the May 1st to 3rd Bank Holiday, is being primed as a flagship cycling event for the UK, being a UCI-approved 2.1 race. It was created off the back of 2014’s Yorkshire Tour de France Grand Depart.
It will be broadcast live on national TV and throughout Europe.
The race is being held by the Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) and Welcome to Yorkshire (WTY), supported by British Cycling.
Director of the Tour de France at A.S.O., Christian Prudhomme, said: “I am delighted we are returning to Yorkshire where we saw the grandest ever Grand Départ for the Tour de France. It is clear the people of Yorkshire are passionate about cycling and we can’t wait to bring them this new race.”
Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “This is another huge milestone for Yorkshire as we position the county as the cycling heartland of Europe. This is the first ever Tour de Yorkshire, I am confident it will become a huge annual event and something that will raise Yorkshire’s profile year on year.”
The route promises to reach parts of the county that the Grand Depart didn’t (as well as a few it did, most likely).
A mass sportive with several distances where people can ride the same route as the Pros will be held on day three (3 May) and thousands are expected to take part in. The mass ride will be delivered by Human Race – owners of the Dragon Ride and many other sportives – in collaboration with the Tour de Yorkshire organisers. Starting today, people can apply to enter the sportive on the Tour de Yorkshire website www.letouryorkshire.com
Picture credit: Welcome to Yorkshire
