Region gets in gear for Tour de Yorkshire

AS the region is gearing up for this weekend’s Tour de Yorkshire, we bring you a taste of what activities are on offer around the county.

Organisers of Stokesley’s free festival to celebrate the arrival of the Tour have announced plans for a special food market in the town as part of the day-long celebrations.

Stokesley Tourfest takes place on Sunday and will feature live music, rides, street entertainers, marquees on The Green, official merchandise stalls, a children’s treasure trail and parades along the High Street, as well as a large, outdoor screen showing the Tour de Yorkshire.

Stokesley TourfestStokesley is also highly regarded for its award-winning Farmers’ Market, organised by the Northern Dales Farmers Markets, which takes place on the first Saturday of every month, and some of the traders have got together to hold a smaller version at Tourfest.

Those confirmed as taking part so far include chocolate experts Chunk Chocolates, Scotch eggs producers the Clucking Pig, Indian food specialists Asharun Spices, as well as Crumble and Slice Brownies, Winnie Yorkshire Delight Jams and The Jar House which sells hot cross buns and bake-at-home kits.

Stokesley Parish Council, volunteers and local businesses have teamed up to organise the market town’s free Tourfest festival which is being headlined by saxophonist Snake Davis, who has played all over the world with the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, M People, James Brown and Ray Charles.

Other artists confirmed include the Colin Holt Band, singer and guitarist Val Boyers, rising local star Amelia Coburn, Beautiful South and Housemartins tribute ‘Old Red Eyes’ Andy Johnson, Elaine Palmer, Doctor Brown and the BBC Young Musician of the Year Alexander Bone and his band.

The Tour de Yorkshire is expected to pass through Stokesley just before noon on the final day, Sunday, after setting off from Middlesbrough. The cyclists will take a gruelling 123-mile route before finishing in Scarborough.
 
Natalie Collins runs Chunk Chocolates and has organised the Tourfest food market.

She said: “We always get such a great response at Stokesley Farmers’ Market that we thought it’d be great to be involved with Tourfest. Lots of the traders wanted to be able to join in the festival so we’ve got together a small group of us and will be selling all sorts of goodies on the day of the Tour de Yorkshire.”

Local businessman Ian Blakemore, a parish councillor and one of the organisers of Tourfest, added: “We’re so pleased that some of the Farmers’ Market traders want to be involved in Tourfest. Natalie has done a fantastic job in bringing everyone together to really showcase what’s on offer every month at the regular Farmers’ Market which has won national awards.”

Elsewhere in the region, the historic Lotherton Hall is to host its first ever food festival on Tour de Yorkshire weekend.

The event will see some of the city’s best street food traders set up on site, alongside 80 local craft and produce stalls.

The festival will begin tomorrow, the same day cyclists will be racing past the entrance to the estate.

A big screen will be set up in the grounds and a festival bar will be serving locally brewed beers from Rudgate Brewery as well as Pimms, prosecco and cocktails.
The festival also continues on Sunday and Monday, with all three days featuring live music on stages across the site, free children’s entertainment, children’s cookery classes, a fun fair, disco and giant bouncy castles.

Excitement is building in Otley which plays host to the start of Stage Two of the race tomorrow.

Bradley Wiggins - second from right Former Olympic silver medalist cyclist Emma Pooley will compete alongside Otley’s very own World Champion Lizzie Armitstead. Sir Bradley Wiggins along with Team Sky’s Lars Petter Nordhaug and current British road champion, Pete Kennaugh, have already been announced by the race organisers as competing in the men’s race.

Spectators will be able to spread out and get a close up view of the riders via Westgate, Piper Lane, Bradford Road, West Chevin Road, Burras Lane, Station Road, Bondgate, Crossgate, Nelson Street, Walkergate and Cross Green before heading towards Pool on the A659 where the race will officially begin.

Otley Town Council, working with Leeds City Council, have organised a variety of activities all throughout the day to entertain the crowds between races.

A large screen showing live TV broadcast of both races will also act as a focal point in the market place for spectators throughout the day.

Meanwhile in Doncaster, actors, storytellers and singers will come together to create a full day of family fun at Doncaster Town Field Sports Club and at the finish line including the first outing for The Great Big Donco which has been co-commissioned by the Yorkshire Festival team. 

There will be a send-off for the peloton from Centre Square in Middlesbrough on Sunday, followed by the Enjoy the Ride Carnival and bike parade inspired by the voyages of Captain Cook.  A town centre community stage and street theatre add to the festivities. A fun day is also planned for Stewart Park for those who wish to spot the peloton from Captain Cook’s birthplace.

In the climax to the race, musicians, street performers and singers will be on hand to entertain spectators in Scarborough. The programme of events will feature performances by the Coastival choir outside the Rotunda Museum, a vintage band and music stage with Yorkshire Coast College on South Bay, and street theatre, as well as an after party at Farrer’s Bar and Brasserie at Scarborough Spa.

Bradford-based car retailer JCT600 will once again be the official car supplier of the Tour de Yorkshire.

The company will supply every official vehicle for the cycle race‎, partnering with Mercedes-Benz to provide a fleet of more than 40 vehicles from the prestige marque. 

John Tordoff, chief executive of JCT600, said: “Following the success of last year’s inaugural Tour de Yorkshire, we are proud to once again lend our support to one of the region’s biggest sports events.  With over 250,000 people turning out to watch the first stage of the race last year, it is a hugely popular event and a fantastic showcase for Yorkshire.

“This year’s race promises to be even better and we’re particularly looking forward to the final race day in Scarborough when we will be at the seafront, close to the finish line, with our Mercedes-Benz stand displaying a range of the latest cars – visitors will even be able to use configurators to digitally build their own Mercedes-Benz.”

The routes:

Friday 29th April
Beverley to Settle 186KM

Locations on route:
•    Beverley
•    Market Weighton
•    Riccall
•    Wetherby
•    Ripley
•    Grassington
•    Cherry Burton
•    Bubwith
•    Tadcaster
•    Knaresborough
•    Pateley Bridge
•    Settle

Saturday 30th April
Otley to Doncaster 136KM

Locations on route:
•    Otley
•    Harewood
•    Aberford
•    Monk Fryston
•    Pontefract
•    South Elmsall
•    Sprotbrough
•    Tickhill
•    Doncaster
•    Pool in Wharfedale
•    East Rigton
•    Sherburn-in-Elmet
•    Knottingley
•    Wentbridge
•    Hooton Pagnell
•    Conisbrough
•    Bawtry

Sunday 1st May
Middlesbrough to Scarborough 198KM

Locations on route:
•    Middlesbrough
•    Stokesley
•    Northallerton
•    Sutton Bank
•    Kirkbymoorside
•    Danby
•    Grosmont
•    Robin Hood’s Bay
•    Great Ayton
•    Hutton Rudby
•    Thirsk
•    Helmsley
•    Hutton-le-Hole
•    Glaisdale
•    Whitby
•    Scarborough
 

For further information visit http://letour.yorkshire.com/2016

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