THE UK’s most decorated female Paralympian in history met Yorkshire cycling fans on Tuesday after taking to the Tour de Yorkshire route ahead of the race this weekend.
Dame Sarah Storey was doing a route recce ahead of the Asda Women’s Tour de Yorkshire Race on Saturday which will go from Otley at 8.15am to Doncaster.
Dame Sarah met residents and local school children from Monk Fryston C of E School over in Hillam where the village is decked out in bunting, bikes and banners ready for the race this weekend.
Dame Sarah Storey addresses the media.
There were also children waving her on from South Milford Community Primary School in South Milford.
She then rode onto Doncaster and crossed the finish line close to the The Earl of Doncaster Hotel, Bennetthorpe, Doncaster.
The international cyclist has an incredible sporting history after winning 11 Gold, 8 Silver and 3 Bronze medals across an impressive 6 Paralympic Games.
Dame Sarah, who will race with her Podium Ambition Pro Cycling Powered By Club La Santa team, said: "It was brilliant to spend today doing a thorough recon of the route for the Asda Women's Tour de Yorkshire race this weekend.
"Having ridden the event last year it is brilliant to see the race become a UCI registered race this year and be 136km in length with full TV coverage.
"I am excited to start my season here, I have chosen to wait until the middle of the spring because there is so much racing for me this year and I want to still be firing on all cylinders in the autumn when we hopefully will be in Rio and Qatar."
Barney Storey MBE, manager of Team Storey Sport, added: "Racing at home as a team is always fantastic and to have the support on the route that the riders will have on Saturday is going to make for a very special event.
"We have a strong team selected for the race and are also delighted to be fielding our development team who race for Boot Out Breast Cancer Cycling Club.
"These riders are snapping at the heels of the professional riders and eager to take a place alongside them for 2017, so I am looking forward to seeing them race each other!"
Sir Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “We are delighted to welcome Dame Sarah back to Yorkshire once again.
"She is one of the greatest Paralympians of all time and having a cyclist of her calibre is what helps make the Asda Women’s Tour de Yorkshire Race one of the best women’s races there is.”
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