TOURMAKERS are advising cycling fans to plan well ahead for the Tour de Yorkshire in order to get the most enjoyment from the world class racing event.

The Tour embarks from Beverley at 11.50am tomorrow and the 185km stage includes two sprint points at Bubwith and Giggleswick, a stiff climb over Greenhow Hill – which will count towards the ‘King of the Mountain’ title. Overall the riders will climb 1,832 metres during the first stage.

The day ends in Settle, after passing through Tadcaster, Wetherby, Knaresborough and Pately Bridge.

The Northern Echo:
ROW 1: Wiggle High5, Lares Waowdeals, Cyclance Pro Cycling, Hitec Products, Team Liv-Plantur; ROW 2: Podium Ambition p/b Club La Santa, Drops Cycling Team, Ale’Cippolin, Great Britain National Team, Boot Out Breast Cancer Cycling Team; ROW 3: Team Breeze, Team WNT, Team Footon Velosport, Fusion RT Fierlan, Team Ford EcoBoost; ROW 4: Les Filles Racing Team, Team Jadan Weldtite

Stage two – also the day of the women’s race – begins from Otley on Saturday before riders work their way south to Doncaster, and over 136km they will encounter two sprint points at Scholes and Warmsworth; three King and Queen of the Mountain climbs at Harewood Bank, East Rigton and Conisbrough Castle – with a total ascent of 1,110m.

The women’s race, which starts in the morning, follow the same route as the men, who set off at 2.30pm.

On Sunday, May 1, the tour arrives in the North-East, with the teams riding out from Middlesbrough before passing through Stokesley, Northallerton, Thirsk, Helmsley, Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay and finishing in Scarborough.

The stage is 198km with two sprint points at Thirsk and Whitby Abbey and a whopping six King of the Mountain climbs at Sutton Bank, Blakey Ridge, Grosmont, Robin Hood’s Bay, Harwood Dale and Oliver’s Mount, with a total ascent of 2,593m over the stage.

Best viewing points are often at the start and finish or at one of the King of the Mountain climbs or sprint sections.

Visitors are advised to leave plenty of time to reach their destinations – and the best mode of transport is often on foot or by bike to avoid getting stuck in road closures or slow moving traffic.

Race ambassadors will this year visit key points on the route before the racing starts to pose for pictures, sign autographs and gear the huge crowds up for the race.

The Northern Echo:
ROW 1: BMC Racing Team, Team Sky, Team Katusha, Orica GreenEDGE; ROW 2: Team Giant Alpecin, Dimension Data, Direct Energie, Topsport Vlaanderen Baloise; ROW 3: Team Lotto NL Jumbo, Team Cofidis Solutions Credits, Team Roompot, ONEPro Cycling; ROW 4: NFTO, Team WIGGINS, Great Britain Cycling Team, Madison Genesis; ROW 5: JLT Condor, Raleigh GAC.

Brian Robinson, the first Briton to win a stage of the Tour de France, will be joined by one of Britain’s most successful cyclists of all time, Sheffield’s Malcolm Elliott; Wakefield’s Barry Hoban, who won eight stages of the Tour de France between 1967 and 1975; Denise Burton Cole, world class rider and daughter of the legendary Morley cyclist Beryl Burton; and Bernard Hinault, the five-time winner of the Tour de France.

They will be following the publicity caravan, which will set off two hours before the racing starts and will also stop at other key points along the route to give away gifts and free samples.

Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “The caravan features some of the best-loved brands in Yorkshire, as well as the official Tour de Yorkshire artist and charity, and will provide an exciting new addition to the race.

“Spectators will also get the chance to meet some of the best cyclists the world has ever seen thanks to our wonderful race ambassadors.”


18 TEAMS, THE LEADING RIDERS

AUSTRALIA

Orica GreenEdge: Adam Yates (GBR), Caleb Ewan, Mathew Hayman (AUS), Lucka Mezgec (SVN)

BELGIUM

Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise: Gijs Van Hoecke (BEL)

FRANCE

Cofidis, Solutions Crédits: Nicolas Edet, Stephane Rosetto, Julien Simon (FRA)

Direct Energie: Thomas Voeckler, Lilian Calmejane, Brian Nauleau (FRA)

GERMANY

Team Giant-Alpecin: Warren Barguil (FRA), Nikias Arndt (GER)

GREAT BRITAIN

Team Sky: Peter Kennaugh, Luke Rowe (GBR), Lars Petter Nordhaug (NOR)

Team Wiggins: Sir Bradley Wiggins, Owain Doull, Andy Tennant (GBR) Team

Raleigh GAC: Morgan Kneisky (FRA), Sebastian Mora, Albert Torres (SPA)

NFTO: Josh Edmondson, Ian Bibby (GBR)

One Pro Cycling: Matt Goss (AUS)

JLT Condor: Russell Downing (GBR)

Madison Genesis: Taylor Karl Gunman (NZL), Erick Rowsell (GBR)

National Team: Gabriel Cullaigh (GBR)

NETHERLANDS

Team Lotto NL-Jumbo: Steven Kruijswijk (NL), Maarten Wynants (BEL)

Roompot Oranje Peloton: Pieter Weening

RUSSIA

Team Katusha: Jurjen Van den Broeck (BEL), Sven Byström (NOR), Nils Politt (GER)

SOUTH AFRICA

Team Dimension Data: Steve Cummings (GBR), Bernie Eisel (AUT), Jacques Janse van Rensburg (RSA)

UNITED STATES

BMC Racing Team: Rohan Dennis (AUS), Ben Hermans (BEL)

THE LEAD RIDERS IN THE WOMEN’S RACE

Lizzie Armitstead (GBR), Kirsten Wild (NED), Emma Pooley (GBR), Shelley Olds (USA), Danielle King (GBR), Jolien D’Hoore (BEL), Annalisa Cucinotta (ITA) and Marta Bastianelli (ITA)


ROLLING ROAD CLOSURES FOR SUNDAY'S MIDDLESBROUGH TO SCARBOROUGH RACE

  • Cote de Grosmont: Fair Head Lane from junctions with Front Street, Grosmont, and Eskdaleside to the A169 closed from 1pm to 4.30pm.
  • Whitby harbour area: New Quay Road, Bridge Street and Church Street closed 2pm to 4.30pm.
  • Scarborough, Oliver’s Mount: Mere Lane and Oliver’s Mount closed 2pm to 6pm. 
  • Scarborough seafront: Sandside and Foreshore Road closed 2pm to 6pm, Marine Drive and Royal Albert Drive closed 5am to 9pm, except section between The Sands and Albert Road, which will close from 8pm on Saturday to 9pm on Sunday. Queens Parade will be closed from 2pm to 6pm.
  • Stokesley High Street: High Street will be open until 11.15am. Immediately following the race, High Street, West Street and West End will be closed between North Road and Thirsk Road until 7pm. 
  • A19 Black Swan Junction/ Hutton Rudby: The off slip roads on both the northbound and southbound junctions closed from 10.45am to 1pm. Diversions will be in place.
  • Northallerton High Street: Closed from 8am to 7pm from Quaker Lane roundabout to Zetland Street.
  • A170 Sutton Bank: Race route closed from east of Sutton under Whitestonecliffe village to the Sutton Bank Visitor centre from 10am to 4pm. 
  • A170 eastbound Thirsk to Sutton Bank: From 11.30am until 2pm eastbound access from Thirsk to Sutton under Whitestonecliffe will not be allowed. Road re-opened at 4pm.
  • A170 westbound Sutton Bank to Thirsk: Local traffic can head towards Thirsk from Sutton under Whitestonecliffe between 12.30pm to 2pm. By 4pm the road will completely re-open.
  • A170 eastbound Sutton Bank to Duncombe Park: Closed between 12.30pm and 2pm, local access only until 4pm. 
  • A170 westbound Duncombe Park to Sutton Bank: Closed from noon to 2pm. Local access only until 4pm.
  • A170 Sutton Bank: Race route closed between 10am to 4pm. For through traffic, a signed diversion in place via the caravan route.


10 FACTS ABOUT THE TOUR DE YORKSHIRE

1. Over the three stages, the riders will cover 320 miles passing through 44 towns and villages.

2. The riders will burn an average 41 calories for every mile cycled.

This amounts to 13,222 calories over all three stages - the equivalent of 169.5 Yorkshire puddings, or 1,018 cups of tea.

3. The average amount of wheel revolutions over all three stages is 20,413,385.

4. Eighteen teams will take part in the men’s race – 136 riders altogether. 38 riders on the have ridden in the Tour de France and 25 have taken part in all three Grand Tours. Keyriders are Sir Bradley Wiggins, Lars Petter Nordhaug, Pete Kennaugh, Luke Rowe.

5. Seventeen teams will take part in the women’s race. Keyriders are Lizzie Armitstead, British Olympian Danielle King, Dame Sarah Storey OBE and Tour de Yorkshire 2015 winner, Louise Mahé.

6. Highest point on the route is the summit of Cote de Greenhow Hill on Stage One at 440m above sea level.

7. A highly anticipated climb is the Cote de Sutton Bank on Stage Three – 1.4km at 12 per cent - which is so ruthless it regularly brings lorries to a standstill.

8. Lastyear 1.5 million spectators lined the roads over the three days.

9. Lastyear’s race brought £50 million to the Yorkshire economy, with spectators spending £20.5m on accommodation and £29.5m on non-accommodation items such as food and drink, souvenirs and transport.

10. The Tour de Yorkshire was the first cycling event to include a ‘digital’ jersey which is voted for byfans via Twitter. The jersey, sponsored by Dimension Data, is presented to the most aggressive rider.