Race is on as Tour de Yorkshire 2017 routes revealed

WELCOME TO YORKSHIRE chief executive Gary Verity today announced the full routes for the Tour de Yorkshire 2017.

Along with Amaury Sport Organisation’s Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme and Scott Thwaites as well as ‘cycling legends’ such as Brian Robinson, Malcolm Elliott and Denise Burton-Cole, Sir Gary announced the official routes for the third edition of the race.

Set to take place between 28-30 April 2017, organisers say it encompasses all four corners of the county including Yorkshire’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites at Fountains Abbey and Saltaire:

Stage One: 173km

Starting on 28 April 2017, the first leg of the race from the coast to the wolds will take riders through the Yorkshire Wolds starting outside Bridlington Spa and heading into Pocklington.

Climbs up the Côtes de Garrowby Hill and Goathland will return the riders to Whitby before continuing on to Robin Hood’s Bay for the third and final climb.Then it’s full steam into Scarborough for the finish along North Bay.

Stage Two: 122.5km

Launching on 29 April 2017 on Tadcaster bridge, cyclists will go through Knaresborough before getting to the first and last climb of the day at Côte de Lofthouse before the descent into Masham.

Then on to Ripon for the second intermediate sprint skirting Fountains Abbey before a fast approach to Harrogate finishing on Parliament Street, just as it did on the opening stage of the 2014 Tour de France.

Stage Three: 194.5km

Dubbed the ‘Yorkshire terrier’ this is said to be the toughest stage of the Tour de Yorkshire. Starting on 30 April, riders will start at Bradford City Park before heading into Saltaire.

The action then joins the 2014 Tour de France route at Burley-in-Wharfedale before passing Bolton Abbey and into the Yorkshire Dales. Skipton, with the first of eight climbs being contested on the Côte de Silsden. The ascent comes on the rise up Haworth’s picturesque main street and another climb at Leeming will be tackled before facing the Côte de Shibden Wall.

The race then traverses from West to South Yorkshire and into Penistone, with another sprint at Stocksbridge.These come at Deepcar, Wigtwizzle, Ewden Height and Midhopestones before the race reaches its climax at Fox Valley.

Sir Gary Verity said: “I can’t wait to see the world’s best riders tackling these routes. We’ve worked hard to design a course which showcases Yorkshire’s stunning scenery as well as delivering a thrilling sporting event.

“Last year the race attracted 2 million spectators and generated £60 million for the local economy, and we’ll go from strength to strength again next year.

Christian Prudhomme said: “I always enjoy coming to Yorkshire and the county certainly knows how to put on a show. I am excited by what this year’s route has in store and am sure it will provide three days of fantastic racing.”
Asda Tour de Yorkshire

It was also announced that following the success of last year, the Asda Tour de Yorkshire women’s race would be held on exactly the same route as stage two, with the women starting in the morning and the men in the early afternoon.

The Maserati Tour de Yorkshire Ride will also give 6,000 amateur cyclists the chance to ride key sections of the third stage just hours before the pros. Each one starts and finishes at Fox Valley Sheffield on Sunday 30 April.

The official Tour de Yorkshire charity is Alzheimer’s Society.

 

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