Your guide to the Tour de Yorkshire 2017
What?
The Tour de Yorkshire is returning for its third year, inspired by the region’s hugely successful stint as the opener for 2014’s Tour de France. Last year, two million spectators lined the route during the three-day cycling spectacular. In 2017, organisers are going all-out to make the race more popular than ever.
When?
The Tour will cover 490 hard-fought kilometres over three days between Friday April 28th and Sunday April 30th.
Where?
Departing from Bridlington at 12:35 and finishing in Scarborough at approximately 16.47
Stage length: 173 kilometres
Highlights include: Hill climbs in Garrowby (estimated at 14 :02) and Goathland (est. 15:34), sprints at Pocklington (est. 13:45) and Whitby Abbey (est. 15:54), and a scenic coastal finish passing through Robin Hood’s Bay (est. 16:09)
Starting in Tadcaster at 14:00 and finishing in Harrogate at approximately 15:53.
Stage length: 122.5 kilometres
Highlights include: A hill climb at Lofthouse (estimated at 15:27), sprints at Knaresborough (est. 14:36) and Ripon (16:07), and a rich slice of history at Ripley Castle (est. 14:49)
Starting in Bradford at 12:10 and finishing at Fox Valley in Sheffield at approximately 17:02
Stage length: 194.5 kilometres
Highlights include: Hill climbs at Silsden (estimated at 13:55), Haworth (est. 14:15), Leeming (est.14:25) and Shibden Wall (est. 14:48), sprints at Brighouse (est. 14:59) and Stocksbridge (est. 16:32), and some classic views over Ilkley Moor (est. 12:45)
Women’s Race – Saturday 29 April
Starting in Tadcaster at 09:10 and finishing in Harrogate at approximately 12:18.Stage length: 122.5 kilometres
Who?
Race organisers Welcome to Yorkshire and A.S.O have announced a host of big-name riders for the 2017 Tour de Yorkshire, with Luke Rowe, Nacer Bouhanni and Caleb Ewan among those set to compete.
Welshman Rowe, who has been part of the last two Tour deFrance wins, will be joined in a strong Team Sky line up by Olympic Gold Medallist Owain Doull and 2016 World Track Champion Jonathan Dibben.
One to watch in the women’s race is local favourite Lizzie Deignan (formerly Armitstead) from Otley.
Why?
Quite apart from the Tour de Yorkshire becoming one of the pre-eminent events on the global cycling calendar, there are activities and events all along the route designed to keep spectators entertained from morning to night.
The Tour’s publicity caravan will arrive in towns and villages approximately two hours before the main event, offering a chance to pick up free souvenirs and meet some cycling legends. Keep an eye out for some eye-catching land art, as communities compete to stand out to more than 11 million people in 78 countries. And get ready for concerts, street performers and exhibitions dotted along each stage of the race.
Where else?
If you can’t make it to the roadside, you can enjoy the Tour de Yorkshire from the comfort of your sofa. As well as nightly highlights on ITV News Tyne Tees at 18:00 (and previews starting Wednesday April 26), you can catch live coverage on ITV4.