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Tour de Yorkshire 2018: Rossetto wins Stage 4, van Avermaet takes overall

Stephane Rossetto wins Stage 4 Tour de Yorkshire 2018, by SWPix

Stage 4 of the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire was long and tough, but raced in warm sunshine. Stephane Rossetto (Cofidis) won in Leeds after a long solo break, and Greg van Avermaet was second on the day, and won the overall General Classification. Read about Stage 4, Tour de Yorkshire 2018.

Tour de France 2018

The road to Alpe d'Huez, by Maurice Koop, Licence CC BY-ND 2.0

The Tour de France returns to Alpe d'Huez in 2018. Before that, there's a Grand Départ in the Vendée, an uphill finish at Mûr de Bretagne, and a rattle over the cobbles to Roubaix; after it come the Pyrenees, and a 31-km individual time trial on Stage 20, then the traditional Paris finish.

Read a stage by stage guide to the Tour de France 2018.

CWIS consultation

17th March 2018

Jesse Norman, minister for cycling at the DfT, is asking for ideas to make cycling and walking safer. Probably the DfT should know how to do this already - after all, organisations like British Cycling and Cycling UK have been telling them for years, but unfortunately they haven't been listening. Will the DfT actually act on what they're told? Who knows, but if you have any interest in active travel, you should respond.

Read about the CWIS consultation, and follow the link to the consultation.

Birketts dangerous cycling report

9th March 2018

Law firm Birketts have produced a report about the possible introduction of new cycling offences. They were commissioned by the DfT as part of Jesse Norman's urgent review which definitely isn't a knee-jerk reaction to the Alliston case. Read about the Birketts dangerous cycling report.

BBC BeSpoke, Giro d'Italia

11th May 2018

Chris Froome, by Jaguar MENA, Flickr, Licence CC BY 2.0

We're being treated to a daily Giro d'Italia podcast from BBC BeSpoke, for the duration of the race. It's hosted by Tom Fordyce, and the regular guest is Jeremy Whittle, and the duo form a sort of Lady Macbeth & Macbeth partnership, plotting to bring down Chris Froome.

Read about BBC BeSpoke Giro d'Italia.

Inspiration from Dutch cycle infrastructure

Bike lanes in the Netherlands are designed with thought and intelligence to create a joined-up, easily  usable network. I took a few photos of cycle infrastructure in Zandvoort, and I've added some comments about the intention of the planners. In the UK, we should pay particular attention to the way they give bike routes continuity, instead of making them give way to every side street.

Read about inspiration from Dutch cycle infrastructure.

New Hedgehog Guide: Côte de Lofthouse road cycling route

This circular road cycling route starts in Harrogate, and heads up to Pateley Bridge then Lofthouse. It climbs the Côte de Lofthouse, which featured on the 2017 Tour de Yorkshire, then returns via Grewelthorpe, Kirkby Malzeard, Galphay, Studley Royal and Ripley to Harrogate. It's on quiet, country roads, features beautiful scenery, and there's the challenge of a steep ascent.

Read about this Côte de Lofthouse road cycling route.

Grassington Yorkshire Dales road cycling route

This circular road cycling route starts in Grassington, and heads north up Wharfedale then Littondale to Halton Gill. It climbs to Malham Tarn, then returns via Malham, Kirkby Malham, Airton, Hetton, and Cracoe to Malham. The roads are quiet, and the ride takes in lanes lined with dry stone walls, open fells, and villages of limestone-built houses, as well as views of Malham Cove.

Read about this Yorkshire Dales road cycling route.

Nidderdale Greenway

The best and most popular cycleway in Harrogate, the Nidderdale Greenway goes about 4 miles to Ripley, using the trackbed of a disused railway. It opened in May 2013.

Fewston, Beecroft, & Timble bike trail

Our guide to the bike trail on Yorkshire Water's land at Fewston reservoir, through the Beecroft Plantation and Timble woods. Read about the Fewston, Beecroft, & Timble woods bike trail.

Scarborough to Whitby Cinder Track

A new Hedgehog Guide to the Cinder Track cycle route, along the old railway from Scarborough to Whitby, with full-colour (!) photos, including lots of Yorkshire sunshine. This 21.5 mile route has beautiful views, and there's wonderful wildlife along the way, for example house martins and swallows at Ravenscar. Read about the Scarborough to Whitby Cinder Track.

York to Beningbrough cycle route

There's a great cycle route from the centre of York to Beningbrough, partly on tarmacked path by the river Ouse, and partly on quiet roads. It ends up at Beningbrough Hall, an C18th National Trust property (where cyclists are entitled to a free cup of tea). Read HedgehogCycling's guide to the York to Beningbrough cycle route.

York to Selby cycle route

HedgehogCycling's guide to the York to Selby cycle route, including 'cycle the solar system'. This is a quality route, mainly on a tarmacked path on an old railway track bed, and is perfect for family cycling. Read our guide (with video and photos) to the York to Selby cycle route.