Iconic Tour de Yorkshire trophies light up Leeds

A number of venues in Leeds received the honour of hosting the famous Tour de Yorkshire trophies this week, ahead of this year’s prestigious event.

On hand to welcome the celebrated ‘Y’ trophies to the Reginald Centre Community Hub in Chapeltown, which is home to one of Leeds City Council’s extremely popular Bike Library schemes, was executive member for environment & active life styles, Cllr Mohammed Rafique.

Since its introduction three years ago, thousands of people have taken advantage of the free initiative, which is now available at eight Community Hubs across Leeds. Working in partnership with Welcome to Yorkshire, all of the sites offer free bike loans to library members, children and adults for up to seven days. The scheme has proved to be a great way in which to provide people of all ages with access to a bicycle, and in doing so, help ensure that they can discover or rediscover the many health benefits and fun that cycling can bring.

Also receiving a visit from the Tour de Yorkshire trophies during the day included Wetherby Library, Garforth One Stop Centre & Library and Strawberry Fields Primary School, where pupils provided a rapturous reception.

This year’s Tour de Yorkshire will include a men’s race between 2 May- 5 May and a women’s race, from 3-4 May. Leeds has received the honour of hosting the exciting conclusion of the men’s race on Sunday, 5 May. Tour De Yorkshire will encompass all four corners of the county and take in 150 cities and towns along the way. Last year saw thousands of people line the streets to welcome the riders into Leeds for the city centre finale of the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire.

For more information regarding the 2019 Tour de Yorkshire, please see: https://letour.yorkshire.com/

To find our more details regarding the routes of each stage, please see: https://letour.yorkshire.com/the-latest/tour-de-yorkshire-2019-routes-announced-in-leeds/

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for environment & active life styles, said:

“The atmosphere in Leeds last year and the reception which was given to all of the riders in the Tour de Yorkshire was unbelievable, and we are very excited to be hosting the grand finale once again in 2019.

“It was wonderful therefore to be able to welcome the trophy to Leeds and a number of our venues, including the Reginald Centre, which offer a fantastic Bike Library scheme. The Tour de Yorkshire and Leeds hosting the start of the Tour de France in 2014 has inspired so many people to cycle, and we have certainly seen this through our Bike Library scheme.

“Bringing therefore the famous Y trophies to one of our bike library schemes at the Reginald Centre Community Hub seemed an obvious choice, and it was fantastic to see how successful it is.”

Notes to editors.

Community Hubs offering a free Bike Library scheme include; Moor Allerton Community Hub, The Reginald Centre in Chapeltown, The Compton Centre in Harehills, St George’s Centre in Middleton, Armley Community Hub, Bramley Community Hub, Hawksworth Community Hub and Dewsbury Road Community Hub.

For media enquiries, please contact;

Colin Dickinson, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 37 89170

Email: colin.dickinson@leeds.gov.uk