Yorkshire To Host New International Cycle Race

Yorkshire will stage a new three-day race from 2015 following its hosting of the opening stage of the Tour de France this summer, with 100 days to go until the Grand Depart in the northern English county. 

Ahead of the start of this year’s Tour on 5th July, the new agreement was announced between Tour organisers ASO and Yorkshire tourism bosses that will see the international race take place for at least the next three years. 

The name, dates and potential route of the new race are yet to be determined, but media reports indicate that the event will take place in May.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said of the news: ‘We have signed a memorandum of understanding with British Cycling and ASO to launch a new international bike race in Yorkshire from May 2015 onwards.’

‘It will be three days of cycling right the way across the county, in places that missed out on the Tour this time round, such as the coast and Ryedale.’

‘This new race will rank as a major new addition to the global cycling calendar.’

The race is expected to include a stage through the North York Moors to Scarborough, and will start with a split stage – a time trial and short road stage.

There is no plan to stage a women’s version of the race in the initial three-year deal, but it is hoped it can be added later, along with an event for amateurs.

Leeds hosts the Grand Depart in July, with the first stage finishing in Harrogate. Stage two of the 101st Tour starts in York and ends in Sheffield.

The third stage starts in Cambridge and takes in a complete a circuit of the Olympic Park in London before finishing on the Mall in the capital.