Delighted organisers of the first-ever Tour de Yorkshire bike race have confirmed details of the route and timings.
And they expect thousands of people to line the route when some of the world’s top cyclists again take to the county’s roads, after the success of last year’s Tour de France.
Stage 3 of the race will bring the cyclists back into Huddersfield and Calderdale.
And there will be a chance for people in many areas which missed out on the Tour de France to see the action.
The race will be held between May 1 and May 3 and the organisers say the race will take in some of the county’s most spectacular scenery.
The routes were announced in Bridlington earlier this year and now the race organisers, Welcome to Yorkshire and the Amaury Sport Organisation based in France, have announced the timings and details of the location starts and finishes.
The one that brings the riders to this area is Stage three, from Wakefield to Leeds, which will start at 12.15pm on May 3 outside Wakefield Cathedral. Riders will have a 4km neutralised section before the official race start at Agbrigg Road on the A61 at 12.30pm. Depending on riders’ speed the race will finish 4.30pm and 5pm at Roundhay Park in Leeds.
Key points in stage three include the race reaching the Holmfirth King of the Mountain climb near Netherthong on the B6107 at approximately 1.28pm and the Scapegoat Hill King of the Mountain climb at approximately 1.51pm.
The route arrives in Cawthorne at just after 1pm and will take the riders through Lower Denby, Denby Dale, Upper Cumberworth, the Sovereign crossroads, New Mill, Wooldale, Holmfirth. Meltham, Marsden and Scapegoat Hill before heading into Calderdale.
There it takes in Barkisland, Stainland, Ripponden, Cragg Vale and Hebden Bridge. It's estimated to be passing through Ripponden at 2.13pm and reaching the top of Cragg Vale some 12 minutes later.
Complete details of the Tour de Yorkshire route and timings can be viewed at letouryorkshire.com/timings
Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said “Today’s confirmation of the timings and precise routes in and out of the start and finish towns and cities will help fans, spectators and businesses who can now begin to plan their weekend, where to watch and how to get the best out of the event.
“This is going to be an extremely exciting three days for Yorkshire”.
Thierry Gouvenou, Tour de France Sports Director said; “Our technical team had a good final visit to Yorkshire and we are very happy with the route the riders will take.
“With 515km in total there are some excellent opportunities throughout the three days for spectators to see riders take Sprint and King of the Mountain climb points, ahead of finish lines designed to generate the kind of welcome that Yorkshire spectators gave the peloton in the Tour de France”.
