STAGE Two of the Tour de Yorkshire will once again be kicked off in Barnsley, it has just been confirmed.
The route was revealed this morning with the second day starting in Church Street, Barnsley, on Friday May 3, and finishing in the town of Bedale. This will also be the first start of the women’s race, and the news was met with cheers at the reveal in Leeds.
Sir Gary Verity praised Barnsley’s input at this year’s event and said that was a big reason as to why Barnsley was chosen again.
Sir Gary, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “It’s always exciting to unveil the host towns for the Tour de Yorkshire and this year is no exception.”
Philip Spurr, service director for culture and visitor economy at Barnsley Council, said: “This is a really exciting time for Barnsley. This year was great for Barnsley’s economy and it is fantastic that we get to be a part of it again. The event will benefit the whole borough.”
Watch a video from the launch event this morning here:
Speaking about the changes to the women’s race, Sir Gary added: “I can’t tell you how important it is to move the women’s race to the Friday and Saturday so they ride with the biggest crowds.
“I’m delighted that the women’s race will be shown in its entirety on live television.”
Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France at the A.S.O, said: “Yorkshire is unique, Tour De Yorkshire is unique. It is a brutal and beautiful race.
“The Tour de Yorkshire is a true success story and in just four years it has grown to become one of the best attended and most dramatic races on the cycling calendar.
“We are delighted to be working in partnership with such a great team at Welcome to Yorkshire and I know our eight start and finish locations will put on a real show in 2019.”
Here's the full official description of the 132km route for stage two: "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 one will start at Doncaster and end in Selby and goes through the East Yorkshire Wolds, calling in at Beverley and Pocklington.
Stage three will start in Bridlington and end in Scarborough, before the final stage from Halifax to Leeds.
