THE first set of Tour de Yorkshire roadshows which will take in the run up to this year’s races have been unveiled and include a visit to the Metrodome later this month.
The second day of the four day racing event will start in Barnsley town centre on Friday, May 4 and will follow a route which takes in a large part of the borough.
The roadshows give a detailed view of the route and provide local residents, businesses and community groups with all the information they need to embrace the fourth outing for the racing spectacle.
The second stage will be known as ‘Yorkshire Heritage’. It starts at the town hall with riders heading out towards Penistone via Barugh Green, Cawthorne and Silkstone.
From Penistone the peloton will ride through Oxspring, Thurgoland and Hood Green into Worsbrough.
It leaves Worsbrough skirting Wombwell Woods to Hoyland, where the first mountains classification points are up for grabs at the ‘Cote de Blacker Hill’.
The route continues through Hoyland and Elsecar and on to Wentworth where it turns east and heads to Hooton Roberts, Conisbrough and Mexborough where it turns north and skirts the borough again east of Goldthorpe and Thurnscoe before heading on through Hemsworth, Pontefract, Castleford, Harewood, Otley, and finishing in Ilkley - 149km in total.
Welcome to Yorkshire is joining forces with local councils to run the roadshows at venues along the 2018 route with the one at the Metrodome taking place on January 18, 5.30pm-7.30pm.
Information will be shared on how to get involved, build excitement and maximise the benefits of world-wide media coverage. Details will also be given on road closures, the annual sportive and Welcome to Yorkshire’s various cycling legacy projects will be discussed, along with ways people can become official Tour Makers or take part in the ‘best dressed’ and ‘land art’ competitions.
Marketing, website and social media tips will also be provided, as well as ways businesses can embrace the huge influx of visitors that turn out to watch the action.
Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive, Sir Gary Verity, said: “The Tour de Yorkshire and Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race are now recognised as some of the best supported races in the world and that’s down to the great people of this county taking them to their hearts.
“We run these roadshows to share information about how the races work and to encourage people to show off their community to a global TV audience of almost 10 million people.
“I’d encourage everyone who lives or works on the route to come along, ask questions and get inspired on how we can all make the 2018 edition the biggest and best one yet.”
Barnsley Council leader Sir Steve Houghton said: “This is set to be a great evening at the Metrodome, offering the opportunity for a wide range of people to share information regarding our town and this year’s Tour de Yorkshire.
“We’re delighted to be hosting stage two of both the women’s and men’s races and it will open up a lot of exciting opportunities for our community, local businesses and residents to get involved. We have a lot to offer here in Barnsley and this roadshow is a fantastic way to ensure we make the most of it.”
To keep up to date with Barnsley’s role of this year’s Tour de Yorkshire, visit the website: www.Barnsley.gov.uk/TDY. For more details on becoming a volunteer Tour Maker, visit http://letour.yorkshire.com/tour-makers.
