Route For 2019 Tour De Yorkshire Revealed

The Tour de Yorkshire is televised in 190 countries, 2.6 million fans lined the route in 2018 and it brought £98 million pounds into the Yorkshire economy - the Tour de Yorkshire is now one of the best cycling events in the sporting calendar.

The full route for the 2019 race has been unveiled in Leeds and will take place from 2-5 May, will visit all 4 corners of the county and visit 150 towns, cities and villages. There will also be the woman's race taking place between 3-4 May.

Stage 1 - Thursday 2 May - The Heritage Stage is from Doncaster to Shelby - 178km

The men’s race will start in Doncaster before heading towards Beverley. On the way the riders will pass Cowick Hall and Howden Minster, and the first intermediate sprint will be contested in Elloughton before the peloton sweeps into Beverley. Not long after they will reach the Yorkshire Wolds and tackle the first classified climb at Baggaby Hill before a brisk descent into Pocklington for a second intermediate sprint. The pace will continue to rise on the brisk approach to Selby where the action will reach a pulsating conclusion right outside Selby Abbey which is celebrating its 950th anniversary.

Stage 2 - Friday 3 May - The World Stage is from Barnsley to Bedale - 132km

The world’s top female riders join the action in Barnsley and start in the morning with the men following in the afternoon. Both exit Barnsley in a north-easterly direction and head towards Pontefract for the first intermediate sprint. The route then skirts Leeds and shortly after Leathley the peloton will commence the Côte de Lindley, the first of five new climbs on this year’s route. Then it’s on to Harrogate where the riders have the chance to tackle the exact same circuit being used at the 2019 UCI Road World Championships. An intermediate sprint has been added along Parliament Street where the Championships finish line will be, meaning the riders can hone their tactics in preparation for September. Once that loop has been concluded the stage continues north through Ripon and it’s full steam into Bedale for an expected bunch sprint in the centre of this vibrant Yorkshire Dales town.

Stage 3 - Saturday 4 May - The Yorkshire Coast Stage from Bridlington to Scarborough - 132km

The riders will roll out of Bridlington and head into the North York Moors National Park. The Côte de Silpho is looming large shortly after Hackness and the opening intermediate sprint comes just after Harwood Dale. The route then continues north and commences an undulating 52km loop just after Fylingdales. Once the peloton has passed through Robin Hood’s Bay they immediately hit the Côte de Hooks House Farm. Then it’s on to Whitby, and before the riders enter town they will contest a second intermediate sprint in front of Whitby Abbey. The views will be spectacular on the approach to Sandsend and it is there that the Côte de Lythe Bank is waiting. Once the riders have crested that summit the route heads inland and the Côtes de Grosmont and Ugglebarnby are positioned just 7km apart. The loop concludes, the pace is sure to be high as the riders drop into Scarborough. The frontrunners will sweep along South Bay, around the castle walls and onto the now-legendary finish along North Bay. It is here that the winner of the Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race will be crowned before the male riders battle it out in front of another massive crowd.

Stage 4 - Sunday 5 May - The Yorkshire Classic from Halifax to Leeds - 178km

The Piece Hall is a spectacular location for the start of this decisive stage before the riders head into Brontë Country. Haworth’s quaint cobbled Main Street features once again but the real climbing begins on the Côte de Goose Eye. Crossing into Craven, the next classified climb comes on the Côte de Barden Moor. Once that has been crested it’s into the Yorkshire Dales National Park where the riders will contest their first intermediate sprint in full view of Kilnsey Crag. The Côte de Park Rash is the next climb on the agenda and before a gradual descent into Middleham, and the peloton will continue on to Masham before entering Nidderdale. Pateley Bridge is sure to put on a colourful show ahead of the Côte de Greenhow Hill, and shortly after Otley the final categorised climb will be fought out on Otley Chevin. The race then sweeps into the outskirts of Leeds for one last intermediate sprint in Tinshill. The riders will get a great view of Kirkstall Abbey before the action reaches a rip-roaring conclusion along The Headrow in the heart of the city centre.

This is the same route as the final day in 2018 except the part from Halifax to Haworth differs.

Speaking at the press launch Sir Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome To Yorkshire said:
"We're blessed with such a diversity of landscapes here in Yorkshire to create such challenging and exciting routes and we wanted the parcours to reflect that showcasing the county in all its glory"

Christian Prudhomme, ASO’s Tour de France Director, said:
"Yorkshire is unique and the Tour de Yorkshire is unique. Once again the team at Welcome To Yorkshire have done a tremendous job in designing such a beautiful, challenging and varied route."

The official Tour de Yorkshire artist will be Mackenzie Thorpe who hails from Middlesbrough. He is one of the biggest-selling British artists of the last 30 years.

Mackenzie Thorpe said:
“I am thrilled and so proud to be the official artist for the 2019 Tour de Yorkshire. For the past 30 years I have painted these hills and dales, the sheep, the brooding darkness and the joyous light of our magnificent, awe-inspiring county."

Mackenzie Thorpe’s official website can be found at https://www.mackenziethorpe.net

The official charity for the 2019 race will be Help For Hereos. Help for Heroes provide recovery and support for all those and their families who have been affected by their time serving in the British Armed Forces.

Full details on Help for Heroes can be found at https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk