Off the wire
• U.S. stocks open lower amid mixed data, Fed statement  • Boll holds nerve to survive thriller  • Eurozone unemployment rate stable at 11.3 pct in March  • Pakistan condemns spike in violence in Afghanistan  • Gov't forces kill more Boko Haram commanders in military operation: spokesman  • Men's singles third round results at table tennis worlds (updated)  • Interview: Self-built pavilion at Milan Expo shows China's new global course: project leader  • Shaikh Salman re-elected AFC president  • Spotlight: Nepal faces enormous challenges in disaster relief, recovery  • Feature: Syrians face soaring commodity prices, economic hardship  
You are here: 　 Home

Countdown to Tour de Yorkshire begins

Xinhua, April 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

Europe's newest competitive cycle race, the Tour de Yorkshire, starts May 1 when riders set off on a grueling three-day event covering 515 km.

The new race was created following the successful start of the world-famous Tour de France in Yorkshire last year.

The event was so successful it sparked a drive to introduce a special race in Yorkshire, and the organizers of the Tour de France agreed.

Stage one of 174 km starts in Bridlington and ends with a sprint along the seafront at the resort town of Scarborough. The route takes in the iconic scenery of the North Yorkshire Moors.

Saturday's Stage two, also 174 km, starts at Selby and ends in the historic city of York. The race reaches what will be a thrilling finale when the third stage of 167 km ends in the county's biggest city, Leeds. That stretch takes in what are described as six brutal mountain climbs, including the tough Cow and Calf rocky crop on the famous Ilkley Moor.

One of the teams taking part is being led by British cycling celebrity and former Tour de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins. Seven of the teams that raced in last year's Tour de France are returning to Yorkshire's roads, and will be joined by a mix of European and home-grown talent.

Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France, said: "We are glad to return to Yorkshire after the huge success of the Tour de France 2014 Grand Depart, the grandest ever. The first ever Tour de Yorkshire will be another occasion to showcase the outstanding landscapes of the county, especially of the coast which we didn't visit last year."

"Tour de Yorkshire will be a great opportunity to review young talents among British riders and enable them to ride with top Tour de France professional teams and cycling stars like Sir Bradley Wiggins and the German sprinter Marcel Kittel," he added.

Gary Verity, CEO of Welcome to Yorkshire said: "The three days spanning May 1 to 3 are set to go down in history. It's the first ever Tour de Yorkshire and the first time Sir Bradley Wiggins will have ridden for his own team. The eyes of the world will once more be on Yorkshire."

When the Tour de France started its race in Yorkshire, pictures of the millions of people crowding the route -- especially the narrow mountain passes -- were beamed across the world.

Thousands of amateur riders will take to the streets of West Yorkshire on the morning of May 3 as part of a mass participation sportive ride. Endit