Route For 2017 Tour De Yorkshire Revealed
The full route for the 2017 Tour de Yorkshire has been unveiled, with the third edition of the race taking place between 28th – 30th April 2017, and featuring “The Yorkshire Terrier” – the toughest stage in the history of the event.
The first stage takes the peloton from the coast through the Yorkshire Wolds, starting outside the refurbished Bridlington Spa and heading into Pocklington for the first intermediate sprint. The classified climbs up the Côtes de Garrowby Hill and Goathland before the race hits the coastline again at Whitby. The route continues on to Robin Hood’s Bay for the third and final climb and then into Scarborough for the finish along North Bay.
The second stage starts on Tadcaster bridge, through into Knaresborough and the day’s sole categorised climb comes on the fearsome Côte de Lofthouse before the descent into Masham. It’s on to Ripon for the second intermediate sprint and the race will skirt the Fountains Abbey before a approaching Harrogate. The action finishes along Parliament Street, just as it did on the opening stage of the 2014 Tour de France.
The final stage, named The Yorkshire Terrier as this is the toughest stage in the history of the Tour de Yorkshire, riders will start at Bradford City Park before heading into Saltaire. The action then briefly joins the 2014 Tour de France route at Burley-in-Wharfedale before passing Bolton Abbey and into the Yorkshire Dales. Skipton is the next, with the first of eight categorised climbs being contested on the Côte de Silsden. The following ascent comes on the cobbled rise up Haworth’s main street and another climb at Leeming before they face the Côte de Shibden Wall. The race then traverses from West to South Yorkshire and into Penistone, and another sprint is on the cards at Stocksbridge before the riders embark on a 22km finishing circuit that features no-less than four categorised climbs. These come at Deepcar, Wigtwizzle, Ewden Height and Midhopestones before the race reaches its climax at Fox Valley.
Here is your full @letouryorkshire route for 2017. We’ll see you all in Yorkshire from 28-30 April. #TDY pic.twitter.com/2MbY2moKu5
— Tour de Yorkshire (@letouryorkshire) December 2, 2016
Sir Gary Verity, Welcome to Yorkshire, chief executive 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.
Amaury Sport Organisation, Tour de France director, 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.”
It was also announced that following 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 £50,000 prize pot is one of the largest in the sport and a stellar cast of riders will be on hand to compete on Yorkshire roads.
Three routes of varying difficulty for the 2017 Maserati Tour de Yorkshire Ride sportive were revealed, giving 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 30th April.
Image: ©Getty Images
