Details have been announced for the first ever Tour de Yorkshire international cycle race which will take place this May on Bank Holiday weekend. Bridlington, Leeds, Scarborough, Selby, Wakefield and York will all host a prestigious start or finish of the new UCI-approved 2.1 race. Amateur riders can get a piece of the action too, in a new sportive to be held on the same day and roads as the final stage of the race on Sunday 3 May.
The new sportive will offer a choice of three lengths of 140km, 100km and 50km, as well as a 50km Cycletta (women only) course. Advance registration for the sportive is now open at the event website, with early bird rates ahead of the official opening at the end of January.
Sportive riders will have access to a dedicated viewing area at the pro race finish, as well as training tips from Bernard Hinault and a chance to win Tour de France prizes.
Hinault, five times Tour de France winner, said: "The Tour de France has had a sportive alongside it for many years and it's a unique experience for amateur riders to ride at L'Etape; so to have this similar experience available at the Tour de Yorkshire will be magnifique and something all keen riders will want to be part of."
Flagship UK cycling event
The new race, which will be held on 1-3 May, is expected to become a flagship cycling event in the UK in 2015 and a regular feature on the international calendar. Top international teams and cycling stars will return to the roads of Yorkshire and the race will be broadcast live on national TV and throughout Europe.
The race will consist of three stages:
Stage 1: Bridlington to Scarborough (174km) - Friday 1 May (course details)
Stage 2: Selby to York (174km) - Saturday 2 May (course details)
Stage 3: Wakefield to Leeds (167km) - Sunday 3 May (course details)
The Tour de Yorkshire is run by 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."
More than 3 million people turned out to see the Tour de France in Yorkshire and the economic impact has been put at well over £100million. Organisers say the new race will build on the hugely successful Grand Départ and is at the heart of Cycle Yorkshire, the legacy of the Tour de France.
Much of the new race will be in parts of the county the Tour de France didn't touch, offering a chance to showcase Yorkshire's wealth of cycling-friendly countryside.
The deputy leader of North Yorkshire County Council, Councillor Carl Les, added: "There is no doubt the Tour de France was a huge boost for North Yorkshire and we're keen to support this new race, which will further strengthen the region's economy. After the dales benefited directly from the Tour de France, we're particularly pleased to welcome the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire to North Yorkshire's beautiful east coast and moors.
A new annual three-day pro race and sportive in Yorkshire, and another chance to welcome cycling's biggest talents: magnifique indeed.
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