The first annual event of the Tour de Yorkshire, is the biggest cycle race in Britain and a legacy from Tour de France of last year. This is a free event to watch and so there’s opportunity for everyone in the county to be involved in one way or another, as part of the Tour de Yorkshire, opined the Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, Gary Verity.
The event spread over 100 days, will take place in 3 stages, during 1st, 2nd and 3rd May. Included will be a women’s event on 2nd May and on 3rd May a mass participation race (Tour de Yorkshire Ride), with also a cultural festival added. The cycle race will be telecast live on TV in UK, and also across Europe, which will also promote Yorkshire’s tourism industry.
This free event is supported by British Cycling and local authorities across the county, and is being organised by Welcome to Yorkshire, along with the Amaury Sport Organisation. The Tour de Yorkshire route is mainly in areas not covered by the Grand Departs of the Tour de France, as it passed through the county.
Leader of North Yorkshire County Council, John Weighell, said the council and partners responded well to the massive logistical challenges of The Grand Departs of the Tour de France last year. But Tour de Yorkshire is a lesser event, yet also requires considerable expertise to ensure its smooth run and allow access to thousands of people who wish to visit North Yorkshire, he added. Organisers hope that the annual event will grow to become one of the biggest in the cycling calendar and also put Yorkshire at the heart of Europe’s cycling events.
