The start and finish lines have been announced for the first ever Tour de Yorkshire international cycle race.
Bridlington, Leeds, Scarborough, Selby, Wakefield and York will all host a prestigious start or finish of the race.
It aims to build on the success of the Tour de France, which drew millions out across Yorkshire, including Huddersfield and Calderdale, in July.
The race, which will be held on between May 1 and 3, is expected to become a flagship cycling event in the UK in 2015 and an outstanding cycle race in the international calendar, including the participation of top international teams and cycling stars. It will be broadcast live on national TV and throughout Europe.
The full route details will be revealed on January 21, 100 days to go to the race and may include parts of Kirklees and Calderdale.
The Tour de Yorkshire is a new race being held by Amaury Sport Organisation and Welcome to Yorkshire, supported by British Cycling.
Director of the Tour de France at A.S.O., Christian Prudhomme, said: “I am delighted we are returning to Yorkshire where we saw the grandest ever Grand Départ for the Tour de France. It is clear the people of Yorkshire are passionate about cycling and we can’t wait to bring them this new race.”
More than three million people turned out to see the Tour de France in Yorkshire and the economic impact has been put at well over £100m. Organisers say the new race will build on the hugely successful Grand Départ and is at the heart of Cycle Yorkshire, the legacy of the Tour de France.
Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “This is another huge milestone for Yorkshire as we position the county as the cycling heartland of Europe. This is the first ever Tour de Yorkshire, I am confident it will become a huge annual event and something that will raise Yorkshire’s profile year on year.”
Much of the new race will be in parts of the county the Tour de France didn’t touch.
British Cycling are supporting the new race and their President, Bob Howden, said: “This new annual race partnering Welcome to Yorkshire and A.S.O. with British Cycling will help to maintain the legacy progress gained so far, helping us to achieve our collective goals of inspiring more people to get on their bikes and get active. Events of this calibre show to the world that Britain has what it takes to be the par excellence deliverer of iconic world class showpieces.”
