2020 Tour de Yorkshire postponed
As part of the fight against the spread of Coronavirus, Welcome to Yorkshire and the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) have postponed the 2020 Tour de Yorkshire and Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race.
Following consultation with stakeholders and sponsors, Welcome to Yorkshire has said it held in depth discussions with both ASO and British Cycling (both TDY race partners) with all parties in agreement that this is the right course of action.
The sixth edition of the annual cycle race was scheduled to take place between 30 April and 3 May 2020.
A spokesman said: “A key factor in the decision-making process was the consideration of the additional burden that such a large-scale event places on the emergency services and local authority partners, at a time when their priorities are rightly elsewhere.
“It is important to reiterate that the overriding concern for all partners involved is the health and safety of the public at this time.”
Peter Box, chairman of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “The race is a great spectacle, but we all know that the health and well-being of everyone across the region, and the country, is frankly more important than a sporting event.
“Our attention now turns to supporting those tourism businesses across the region, many still reeling from the floods, during this unprecedented crisis.”
Welcome to Yorkshire, ASO and British Cycling are working with the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) to find alternative dates in the international cycling calendar for the race to take place.
Welcome to Yorkshire says it understands the impact that postponing the race will have on the tourism industry across the region.
In its statement, it adds: “This early decision gives us the opportunity to focus our efforts on how we can support businesses at this time and continue to promote the region as a destination to visit going forward.”
