Tour de Yorkshire 2017: the route

The route of the Tour de Yorkshire 2017 was announced on 2nd December 2016. The stages are Bridlington to Scarborough (Stage 1), Tadcaster to Harrogate (Stage 2), and Bradford to Fox Valley, Sheffield (Stage 3). 

Tour de Yorkshire 2017: Stage 1, Bridlington to Scarborough

North Sea coast & Robin Hood's Bay

Stage 1 of the 2017 Tour de Yorkshire is 173km from Bridlington to Scarborough, via the Yorkshire Wolds and the North York Moors. It takes place on Friday 28th April 2017. After the start in Bridlington, it heads west to Driffield, then Pocklington, for the first intermediate sprint. It then turns north, and takes in the categorised climb of Garrowby Hill, before continuing to Malton and Pickering. 

In the North York Moors National Park, the riders climb the Côte de Goathland, then descend to Whitby, where there's another intermediate sprint. 

Whitby harbour, by Hedgehog Cycling

The route is then south along the North Sea coast via Hawkser to Robin Hood's Bay. There's a climb out of Robin Hood's Bay, then the riders continue south via Cloughton and Burniston to Scarborough, and the traditional finish at North Bay.

Scarborough North Bay, by Mike Dobson, Flickr, Licence CC BY-ND 2.0

Intermediate sprints: Pocklington & Whitby

Climbs: Côte de Garrowby Hill, Côte de Goathland, Côte de Robin Hood's Bay

Read more about Stage 1, Tour de Yorkshire 2017.

Tour de Yorkshire 2017: Stage 2, Tadcaster to Harrogate

Shaw Mills, by Hedgehog Cycling

Stage 2 of the 2017 Tour de Yorkshire on Saturday 29th April 2017 starts on the newly reopened Tadcaster Bridge (damaged by flooding in winter 2016). It heads north west to Boston Spa, Wetherby, Kirk Deighton, North Deighton, and Little Ribston, then on to a Knaresborough - an echo of part of the route of Stage 1, Tour de Yorkshire 2016.

Waterside Knaresborough, by Hedgehog Cycling

The first intermediate sprint is in Knaresborough, then the stage continues via Ripley, Bedlam, Burnt Yates, and Summer Bridge to Pateley Bridge. From there, the peloton will take a picturesque route past Gouthwaite reservoir to Lofthouse, and up a steep climb called the Côte de Lofthouse. Then, it's on past Leighton reservoir to Masham. Between Masham and Ripon, the route via West Tanfield and North Stainley is that of Stage 1 of the Tour de France 2014. 

The Old Coach House, North Stainley, by Hedgehog Cycling

From Ripon, the riders go via Fountain's Abbey, then approach Harrogate from the north, through the villages of Bishop Thornton, Shaw Mills, Clint, Birstwith, and Hampsthwaite. They'll join the A59, which takes them to the New Park (or Little Wonder) roundabout. Then it's a repeat of the finish of Stage 1 of the 2014 Tour de France - into Harrogate on the A61, and up Parliament Street to a finish line beyond Betty's, in front of the Hotel du Vin.

Betty's & Parliament Street, Harrogate, by Hedgehog Cycling

Intermediate sprints: Knaresborough, Ripon

Climbs: Côte de Lofthouse

Read more about Stage 2, Tour de Yorkshire 2017.

Tour de Yorkshire 2017: Stage 3, Bradford to Fox Valley, Sheffield

Descent to Midhopestones on Stage 3, Tour de Yorkshire 2017, by Hedgehog Cycling

Stage 3 of the 2017 Tour de Yorkshire on Sunday 30th April 2017 starts at Bradford City Park, and goes north to Saltaire and Shipley, then up Hollins Hill to Guiseley and Menston. From there, the route is to Burley-in-Wharfedale, where it follows part of the Tour de France 2014 Stage 1 route to Ilkley, then continues north to Addingham, Bolton Bridge, and Bolton Abbey.

Bolton Abbey, by Steve Glover, Licence CC BY 2.0

The riders will continue north to Burnsall, then turn back south via Cracoe to Skipton. They carry on south to Silsden, and here the route echoes Stage 2 of the 2014 Tour de France. It takes in a climb of the Côte de Silsden, and goes via Riddlesden to Keighley, then on to Haworth (where there's also a categorised climb). Then it's on to Oxenhope, the Côte de Leeming, Queensbury, and the Côte de Shibden Wall just before Halifax.

Shibden Wall, by Tejvan Pettinger, Licence CC BY 2.0

Stage 3 winds its way via Brighouse, Cleckheaton, Birstall, and Liversedge, then heads south to Holmfirth. It takes in Milhouse Green and Penistone, then joins a finishing circuit: there's a sprint at Stocksbridge, then climbs at Deepcar, Wigtwizzle, Ewden Height, and Midhopestones. The finishing line is in Stocksbridge (Fox Valley, Sheffield).

Stocksbridge by Dave Pickersgill, Licence CC BY-SA 2.0

Intermediate sprints: Clifton, Stocksbridge

Climbs: Côtes de Silsden, Haworth, Leeming, Shibden Wall, Deepcar, Wigtwizzle, Ewden Height, & Midhopestones

Read more about Stage 3, Tour de Yorkshire 2017.

Tour de Yorkshire 2017: news

Tour de Yorkshire 2017 news: Caleb Ewan hoping to excel

28th April 2017

Caleb Ewan, by Tim Moreillon, Licence CC BY-SA 2.0

As Stage 1 of the 2017 Tour de Yorkshire gets under way to day, Caleb Ewan is hoping for an excellent performance.

The Orica-Scott rider has six wins to his credit already this season, and is using the Tour de Yorkshire as preparation for the Giro d'Italia. He is targeting the Stage 2 finish in Harrogate, which should be a contest among the sprinters.

Ewan said, 'I'm feeling good for the Tour de Yorkshire. Having not raced in a month, there is always a little bit of an unknown in terms of racing form, but I feel good in training and I'm hoping to feel good throughout the race. Saturday is the day that looks most likely for a sprint, so that's the one I am most focused on.'

Tour de Yorkshire 2017 news: big-name riders announced

18th April 2017

Luke Rowe leads the Sky train at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal 2016, by Flowizm, Licence CC BY 2.0

Some of the big-name riders set to take part in this year's Tour de Yorkshire have been announced.

In the men's Tour, they include Luke Rowe, Owain Doull, and Jonathan Dibben (Team Sky); sprinters Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis), Dylan Groenewegen (Lotto Jumbo), and Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott); British champion Adam Blythe; and 2016 winner Thomas Voeckler.

Stars of the women's circuit on the start line for the women's one-day race include Lizzie Deignan, her Boels-Dolmans teammate Anna van der Breggen, Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle High 5), Kirsten Wild (Cylance Pro Cycling), and British champion Hannah Barnes.

Tour de Yorkshire 2017 news: jerseys revealed

16th April 2017

The jerseys for the different competitions within the Tour de Yorkshire 2017 have been revealed.

The leader of the General Classification will wear a blue jersey, sponsored by Welcome to Yorkshire. The pink jersey is for the the King and Queen of the Mountains competition (sponsored by Virgin Trains). The green jersey if for the Sprint Classification (sponsored by Yorkshire Bank). The grey jersey goes to the Most Agressive Rider (sponsored by Dimension Data).

Tour de Yorkshire 2017 news: ITV4 advert

12th April 2017

ITV4's advert for the Tour de Yorkshire features 85-year-old chairman of Scarborough Paragon Cycling Club, Brian Musson.

In case you missed it, here's @ITV4's brilliant Tour de Yorkshire advert. Enjoy. #TDY pic.twitter.com/FFqhgLBwBN

— Tour de Yorkshire 🚴 (@letouryorkshire) April 9, 2017

Tour de Yorkshire 2017 news: men's and women's teams announced

21st March 2017

Tour de Yorkshire peloton, by SWPix.com

The men's and women's teams taking part in the 2017 Tour de Yorkshire have been announced. There are to be 18 men's teams, and 18 women's teams.

Teams taking part in the men's Tour include BMC Racing, Orica-Scott, Dimension Data, Lotto NL-Jumbo, Sky, and One Pro Cycling. A national Team GB team will also participate. Women's teams include Boels Dolmans, Cervelo-Bigla, and Ale Cipollini.

Sir Gary Verity said, 'This is the largest field we have ever assembled and the quality of it reflects the high esteem in which our race is held. Having the very best teams in the business coming to Yorkshire is a massive coup, but it is also important to us that British-based teams have the opportunity to pit themselves against the world's finest riders. Teams want to compete at the Tour de Yorkshire as they know they will be guaranteed massive crowds, exciting racing and an electric atmosphere.'

Tour de Yorkshire 2017 news: Lizzie Deignan (née Armitstead) to ride women's race

9th March 2017

Lizzie Deignan, photo courtesy of Welcome to Yorkshire

Lizzie Deignan (née Armitstead) is to take part in the women's Tour de Yorkshire 2017, it was announced today.

Deignan will ride for her Boels-Dolmans team. She said, 'I'm really excited to be riding the Asda Women's Tour de Yorkshire again and am looking forward to being back on home turf...It's a more challenging route this year and that's one of the great things about the Tour de Yorkshire, that we're able to compete on the exact same roads as the men.'

Sir Gary Verity said, 'Lizzie is one of Yorkshire's top cycling talents and we're thrilled that she'll be taking part in the race.'

Tour de Yorkshire 2017 news: official Tour de Yorkshire artist

1st March 2017

Artist Lucy Pittaway, & Sir Gary Verity, photo courtesy of Welcome to Yorkshire

Lucy Pittaway is to be the official artist for the Tour de Yorkshire 2017, for the second consecutive year. The Richmond-based pastel artist will create a piece to capture the spirit of the race, and it will be unveiled at Welcome to Yorkshire's Y17 event at York Theatre Royal on 21st March 2017.

Tour de Yorkshire 2017 news: announcement of host towns

The six host towns of the Tour de Yorkshire 2017 were announced on 25th October 2016. They are Bradford, Bridlington, Harrogate, Scarborough, Sheffield, and Tadcaster.

The stage routes will be announced in December, and it will then be clear which of the host towns are at the start of a stage, and which are at the finish. The race itself is from 28th to 30th April 2017.

Thomas Voeckler won the Tour de Yorkshire 2016, which attracted about 2 million roadside spectators.