Wednesday 21 January 2015 17:46, UK
The inaugural Tour de Yorkshire will start in Bridlington and finish in Leeds, event organisers have confirmed.
The three-day race, which will take place from May 1-3, is part of the legacy from last summer's hugely successful Grand Depart of the Tour de France, which saw crowds of over two million line the streets.
But the route used last summer will not be repeated this year, with Visit Yorkshire CEO Gary Verity keen to take the race to parts of the county which were not visited in 2014 while retaining some links to last year's memorable event.
Verity said: “Before the Grand Depart had even finished people all across Yorkshire were asking when we can have more cycling.
“The Tour de Yorkshire will bring back many of the world’s top cycling teams and there will be an opportunity for ordinary people to ride the same roads on the same day in the sportive.
“And this is a free event to watch so there is an opportunity for everyone in the county to be part of Tour de Yorkshire in one way or another.”
Stage one starts out on the east coast in Bridlington and includes five categorised climbs before finishing in Scarborough after 174km of racing - the toughest climb will come when the peloton leaves Robin Hood's Bay.
“It’s tougher than people think,” Verity said. "I cycled through there before the Tour came in July and got a real shock
The second stage will be a flatter affair, also 174km, more suited to the sprinters who make the journey to Yorkshire. There are a couple of climbs on the run from Selby to York, but Verity warns the stage could be a minefield if it proves to be a windy day.
“These roads are a doddle on a nice day, but in a bit of a breeze they take on a different complexion - there is no shelter,” Verity said.
The finale, a 167km run from Wakefield to Leeds, has been designed to resemble the second stage of the Tour which was won by eventual champion Vincenzo Nibali in Sheffield.
It includes six categorised climbs and three more which are uncategorised, looping down to Barnsley and through Holmfirth and Haworth, where the riders will again climb the iconic cobbled town centre ascent.
They will also take in the Cow and Calf near Ilkley and climb the Otley Chevin before heading into Leeds where the race will finish in Roundhay Park.
Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France at Amaury Sports Organisation, said: “After the grandest of Grand Departs of the Tour de France, we were keen to return to Yorkshire.
“With its stunning landscapes, iconic cities and tough climbs, Yorkshire offers all the ingredients needed for a great cycling race. The welcome we received in Yorkshire in July 2014 was simply spectacular and I am very much looking forward to returning there in May for the Tour de Yorkshire.”
The race will be contested by 16 eight-rider teams including some from Britain, and Verity hopes the new WIGGINS team formed by Team Sky's Sir Bradley Wiggins will be amongst them.
Plans are for the race to become an annual event on the UCI calendar
