Cycling

Le Tour De Yorkshire Expands!

Fantastic news from Welcome To Yorkshire, organisers of the Tour de Yorkshire:

Yorkshire has received a huge boost today with the news that the Tour de Yorkshire will grow from three to four days in 2018.

Organisers Welcome to Yorkshire and A.S.O had been seeking to extend the race after its phenomenal success over the last three years, and cyclingโ€™s world governing body the UCI confirmed the decision on Thursday with the four-day Tour de Yorkshire being included on their 2018 Europe Tour calendar between Thursday 3rd and Sunday 6th May.

And if that wasnโ€™t enough, the Asda Womenโ€™s Tour de Yorkshire will also double in size next year, increasing from one to two days on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th May.

The news will bring far-reaching benefits to the county and further enhance Yorkshireโ€™s reputation as a world-class cycling destination. The Tour de Yorkshire was launched in 2015 following the hugely successful Tour de France Grand Dรฉpart 12 months previously, and it has since grown to become one of the sportโ€™s best-supported and most exciting races.

This yearโ€™s event was broadcast live in 180 countries and a record 2.2 million fans lined the route. The race also generated ยฃ64 million for the Yorkshire economy and the Asda Womenโ€™s Tour de Yorkshire remains one of the most lucrative events in the sport.

Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive Sir Gary Verity said: โ€œThis is absolutely tremendous news and something we have long been working to achieve. We are grateful to British Cycling for supporting our application, and to the UCI for granting us this extension.

โ€œSeeing the Tour de Yorkshire grow into what it is today is one of my teamโ€™s very proudest achievements and none of this would have been possible if the people of Yorkshire – and Great Britain – hadnโ€™t taken the race to their hearts.

โ€œThis decision will help us attract even bigger names in the future and allow us to design a more varied and spectacular route.

โ€œOur race is growing in stature all the time and the next two editions will hold even greater prestige given that Yorkshire is also hosting the UCI Road World Championships in 2019.

โ€œCycling is booming across the county and today marks an exciting new chapter for our race.โ€

Tour de France Director Christian Prudhomme said: โ€œThe Tour de Yorkshire is a true success story and the way the race has grown over the last four years has been incredible.

โ€œThe size and passion of the crowds has not just impressed me, but the cyclists too. They are always blown away by the reception they receive and are already looking forward to coming back in 2018.

โ€œExtending the race to four days will allow us to visit more parts of the county and put on an even greater show.โ€

British Cycling Chief Executive Julie Harrington said: “We welcome the decision by the UCI to endorse the increase in duration of both the men’s and women’s races at the Tour de Yorkshire as a sign of the fantastic work done by Welcome to Yorkshire in collaboration with British Cycling in building an event which inspires people across Britain to get active by getting on their bikes.

โ€œWe look forward to working with the Tour de Yorkshire team to finalise arrangements.”

The decision to grow the Tour de Yorkshire from three to four days means there will be eight start and finish destinations for the 2018 race, and these are set to be announced on Thursday 28 September. The full route will then be unveiled at a high-profile press conference on Tuesday 5 December.

Photo credit: SWPix.com

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