Start and finish locations for 2019 Tour de Yorkshire announced

Sent on behalf of Tour de Yorkshire:

The eight host locations for 2019 Tour de Yorkshire have been unveiled by organisers Welcome to Yorkshire and the Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O).

The stages for the fifth edition will begin or end in:

Barnsley

Bedale

Bridlington

Doncaster

Halifax

Leeds

Scarborough

Selby

The Tour de Yorkshire will take place between 2-5 May and the 2019 edition has been upgraded to HC status by cycling’s world governing body the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) – the highest category possible for a multi-day race outside of the UCI WorldTour.

At the press conference in Leeds, Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive Sir Gary Verity DL also confirmed that Redcar will be a host town for the 2020 edition, and that the 2019 route will include the circuit in Harrogate which will be used in the 2019 UCI Road World Championships.

Photographs from the press conference will be uploaded here (please credit any you use to SWPix.com): https://yorkshire.box.com/v/2019HostTowns

Sir Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “It’s always exciting to unveil the host towns for the Tour de Yorkshire and this year is no exception. We’re thrilled that Bedale will be making its debut as the town gave the riders an amazing reception when they passed through earlier this year, and I’m sure Redcar will also excel in 2020. The other locations have already proven themselves as more than worthy recipients and we cannot wait to return.

“The full route will be announced on Friday 7 December but we felt it was important to confirm the inclusion of the Harrogate circuit as the sport’s best riders are already planning their trips to the 2019 UCI Road World Championships and the Tour de Yorkshire will be the only chance they get to sample that circuit under race conditions before then.”

Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France at the A.S.O, said: “The Tour de Yorkshire is a true success story and in just four years it has grown to become one of the best attended and most dramatic races on the cycling calendar.

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with such a great team at Welcome to Yorkshire and I know our eight start and finish locations will put on a real show in 2019.”

Next year’s Tour will once again see the return of the Tour de Yorkshire Ride sportive and give the chance for Tour Makers to volunteer on the race route and help welcome the millions of spectators.

Many of the host towns announced are also home to Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries, a direct legacy of the Tour de France and Tour de Yorkshire, which aim to offer every child in Yorkshire access to a bike. So far 54 libraries have opened across the county and over 6,000 bikes have been donated.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• The Tour de Yorkshire was launched in 2015 as a legacy of the 2014 Grand Départ. It is organised by Welcome to Yorkshire and the Amaury Sport Organisation.

• The men’s race holds a 2.HC UCI Europe Tour classification.

• The Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race was awarded 2.1 status in 2016.

• 2.6 million spectators lined the route for the 2018 edition, up from 2.2 million in 2017.

• The 2018 edition was watched by 12.5 million TV viewers in 190 countries.

• The 2018 edition generated £98 million for the Yorkshire economy.

• The race is supported by Yorkshire Bank, Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries, Asda, Dimension Data, LNER, Tissot, Le Coq Sportif, Global, Sky Betting & Gaming, Soreen, Mug Shot, Gateley PLC, Named Sport, Mavic, Doncaster Sheffield Airport, Black Sheep and Eisberg Alcohol Free Wine.

The official Tour de Yorkshire website can be found at www.letouryorkshire.com

More information on Bike Libraries can be found at http://bikelibraries.yorkshire.com

To apply to be considered as a Tour Maker visit http://letour.yorkshire.com/tour-makers

For further information, contact:

Nick Howes – Head of Sports Media

Email: nhowes@yorkshire.com

Direct: 0113 322 3505

Mobile: 07590 964828