Tour de Yorkshire Returns!

Mens Race coming near Ilkley - 3 chances to watch Stage 2 and 4

Women's Race coming near Ilkley - chance to watch Stage 1

The Tour de Yorkshire returns locally next week. Whilst not coming through Ilkley itself this year, there are several places nearby to watch both the mens and women races. Click here for full details:
https://letour.yorkshire.com/tour-de-yorkshire-2019/

Last year's Stage finish in Ilkley - Welcome to Yorkshire

Cycle the Tour de Yorkshire 2018!

What a fantastic stage finish we had here on Ilkley Moor!  Thousands lined the route to cheer the cyclists up to The Cow and Calf Rocks and the finish line of this challenging stage.  This was the scene more than an hour before the stage finish!

The caravan procession of sponsors was greeting with big cheers as goodies were handed out!

The famous Cow and Calf Rocks were adorned with Yorkshire flags 

Finally, the riders came storming up the gradient for the first ever climb finish of the Tour de Yorkshire.  The women's event had followed the same route for most of the day and was equally as exciting! 

Find out more and watch the highlights at https://letour.yorkshire.com

Why not book your stay with us and cycle part (or all!) of the stage?

Tour de Yorkshire 2018 returns to Ilkley!

It has just been announced: ILKLEY will host the end of stage 2 (Barnsley to Ilkley) on Friday 4th May of the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire 

This time the route will come from Otley via Askwith, Denton, past Ilkley Lido, up Brook Street, Cowpasture Road and a summit finish at The Cow and Calf Rocks.

First stage: 3rd May - Beverley to Doncaster
Stage two: 4th - Barnsley to Ilkley
Stage three: 5th - Richmond to Scarborough
Stage four: 6th - Halifax to Leeds

The route was announced by Sir Gary Verity from Welcome to Yorkshire at a packed launch. 

Ilkley is undoubtedly the best base to view Tour de Yorkshire 2018  and we have made all our remaining accommodation available for May Day weekend breaks arriving Thursday 3rd or Friday 4th May. 

Find out everything about Tour de Yorkshire here

Tour de Yorkshire 2017 comes back to Ilkley!

Sunday 30th April 2017 sees Le Tour de Yorkshire back in Ilkley.  Here are the essentials.  Go to the official Tour de Yorkshire website for full details and everything you need to know!

STAGE 3: SUNDAY 30TH APRIL 2017: BRADFORD TO FOX VALLEY, SHEFFIELD

Total stage length: 194.5km

8 King of the Mountain Climbs: Silsden, Haworth, Leeming, Shibden Wall, Deepcar, Wigtwizzle, Ewden Height & Midhopestones

2 Sprints: Brighouse & Stocksbridge

Total ascent: 3,517m

On Stage Three The riders roll out of City Park in Bradford and take in Salts Mill before the start flag is lowered. The action then briefly joins the 2014 Tour de France route at Burley-in-Wharfedale before passing into the Yorkshire Dales. Skipton is the next town on the agenda, with the first of eight categorised climbs being contested on the Côte de Silsden. The next ascent comes on the cobbled rise up Haworth’s picturesque main street and another climb at Leeming must also be tackled before they face the infamous Côte de Shibden Wall. This cobbled brute could see splits form before the final intermediate sprint in Stocksbridge. The riders then embark on a torturous 22km finishing circuit that features no less than four categorised climbs at Deepcar, Wigtwizzle, Ewden Height and Midhopestones before the race reaches its climax at Fox Valley.

Tour de Yorkshire - NEW RIDE PLACES RELEASED - Limited numbers available

 

As operational elements of the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire Ride have been firming up, organisers of the Ride, Human Race have been keeping a close eye on the rider capacity for the day.

Many people were disappointed to miss out on a place with all 5,000 places in the event selling quickly. So we are delighted to hear that having finalised the start wave structure for the Ride and the timings of the pro race, they are now able to release 500 additional places in the Ride.  
ENTRIES WILL OPEN AT 12:00noon ON THURSDAY 19TH MARCH
Good Luck!

The Details
The start and finish will be from Roundhay Park in Leeds and the majority of each route will be on the same roads as the Pros, on the same day on the 3rd and deciding day of the Tour de Yorkshire. There are three distances to choose from (140km, 100km and 50km - including a Women Only Cycletta over 50km).

Benefits for all riders will include:

• Same routes, structures and spectators as for the pro race
• Finish on the Tour de Yorkshire finish line
• Tour de Yorkshire ride and pro race public village for you and your family
• Ceremonies on the Tour de Yorkshire podium
• One lucky rider will be part of the Tour de Yorkshire pro prize presentation
• Sportive riders dedicated viewing area of the pro race finish
• Tour de France legend and 5 times winner, Bernard Hinault, to provide everyone with his top training tips
• Yorkshire style support through the towns and villages
• Comparison climb times with the Pros (check how you compare with the best)
• Tour de France memorabilia mass giveaway at the Tour de Yorkshire village for 100s of lucky riders
• Etape du Tour bibs prize draw
• Tour de France VIP access prize draw

Event also includes:

• Mechanical support – like the pros
• Medical support
• Sweep vehicle for those who cannot complete the route
• Energy drinks, bars and gels provided at feed stations
• Electronic chip timing
• Results texted to you as you cross the line
• Finisher's medal

Tour de Yorkshire Timings

The highly anticipated start and finish times for the Tour de Yorkshire have been announced along with the precise location details of the race starts and finishes

Stage one on Friday 1^st May will have a ceremonial start at 11.45am on South Marine Drive outside the Bridlington Spa. Riders will have a 5km neutralised section before the official race start at Sewerby at 12 noon. Depending on rider’s speed the race will finish between 4pm and 4.30pm on Royal Albert Drive in Scarborough.

Stage two, from Selby to York, will have a ceremonial start at 11.20am outside Selby Abbey. Riders will have an 8km neutralised section before the official race start just outside Selby on the A163 at 11.45am. Depending on riders’ speed, the race will finish between 3.30pm and 4pm on Knavesmire Road in York.

On the final day, Stage three, from Wakefield to Leeds, will start at 12.15pm outside Wakefield Cathedral. Riders will have a 4km neutralised section before the official race start at Agbrigg Road on the A61 at 12.30pm. Depending on riders’ speed the race will finish between 4.30pm and 5pm at Roundhay Park in Leeds. 

*** This stage sees a sprint section into Ilkley at about 3.30pm, before climbing Le Cote de Cow & Calf just down the road from Westwood Lodge passing before 4pm ***

We've got ONE COTTAGE available (as of 14th March) for The Tour de Yorkshire Bank Holiday weekend! Book soon

For more details of The Tour timings go to http://letour.yorkshire.com/timings

First ever Tour de Yorkshire will feature Ilkley and the famous climb up the Cow and Calf onto Ilkley Moor!

Latest news from Welcome to Yorkshire

 

We are proud to announce details of the first ever Tour de Yorkshire

Stage 1 on Friday 1st May will start in Bridlington and finish in Scarborough - 174km

Stage 2 on Saturday 2nd May will start in Selby and finish in York - 174km

Stage 3 on Sunday 3rd May will start in Wakefield and finish in Leeds - 167km

Stage 1 will start in the seaside town of Bridlington and 174km later finish further up the coast in Scarborough. The riders, from all over the world, will pass through spectacular coastal scenery and the iconic North York Moors landscapes. From the start line in Bridlington the riders will head along the Flamborough Head Heritage Coast before turning away from the coast into the North York Moors National Park, through Dalby Forest and towards Pickering. They’ll then take a spectacular journey back to the coast at Whitby, and then south to Robin Hood’s Bay with the ultimate race to the finish line on the seafront at Scarborough.

Stage 2 will see the race start outside the imposing Selby Abbey. The route takes in much of the Yorkshire Wolds, and from Selby will take the peloton towards Market Weighton, through North Newbald and on to Beverley, where they will turn north to Malton, then on to Stamford Bridge. Spectators will have the chance to see a circuit of York and organisers are hoping for a dramatic finish in the city. And as part of the legacy of the Tour de France to get more women cycling there will also be a dedicated women’s event on a circuit through York on day 2, the 2nd May.

Stage 3 will see the peloton make a return to some of the roads raced in the 2014 Yorkshire Grand Départ of the Tour de France, only with a twist; starting in Wakefield, riders will travel south to Barnsley before heading to Holmfirth where they pick up the Grand Départ route in reverse, racing to Ripponden before riding the iconic Cragg Vale – which in the Tour de France was the country’s longest continual climb and now becomes the longest continual descent. The riders will then make their way to Hebden Bridge, Oxenhope and through the famous cobbled streets of Haworth, one of the most iconic images of the Tour de France in Yorkshire. After a steep climb at Goose Eye the riders will once again see Ilkley, with the famous climb up the Cow & Calf before a sprint point at Arthington and then what is expected to be a hugely popular finish line in Roundhay Park in Leeds.

Here are the Tour de Yorkshire routes maps:

http://letouryorkshire.com/stage-1/map

http://letouryorkshire.com/stage-2/map

http://letouryorkshire.com/stage-3/map

Many in the media are already dubbing it as one of the biggest and most exciting cycling events in the UK in 2015 and we hope you will be part of it. The race will start around midday each day; we will be issuing more detailed timings shortly, and you can watch anywhere along the route for free. It will also be shown live on television in the UK and across Europe and a huge television audience is expected, once again shining a spotlight on Yorkshire.

Amateur cyclists can also take part in the Tour de Yorkshire Ride, a mass participation bike ride which promises to be one of the most challenging and popular sportives in the British calendar. Organised by Human Race, it will take place before the pro race on the morning of the final day, Sunday 3rd May and thousands are expected to take part. You can register here, more details will be released next week.

Welcome to Yorkshire is also organising a month long Tour de Yorkshire Festival from 1 April to 3 May 2015 to showcase the county’s rich and diverse cultural offering. The Yorkshire Festival, which accompanied the Tour de France Grand Départ, will be held in 2016.

Welcome to Yorkshire will shortly be contacting the Tour Makers who supported the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in 2014 and recruiting a smaller number of Tour Makers to support the Tour de Yorkshire.

The race is being organised by Welcome to Yorkshire and the Amaury Sport Organisation, with support from British Cycling and local authorities throughout the county, especially the start and finish towns and cities; Bridlington, Leeds, Scarborough, Selby, Wakefield, York and North Yorkshire County Council and East Riding Council.

You can keep up to date with all the latest information about the Tour de Yorkshire here:

Website: www.letouryorkshire.com

Twitter: @LeTourYorkshire #TdY

Facebook: Facebook.com/LeTourYorkshire

The Grandest of Grand Départs!

When The Tour Came to Yorkshire...   “The Grandest ever Grand Départ” Christian Prudhomme, (Director of the Tour de France)   The Tour de France in numbers (most figures supplied by Welcome to Yorkshire) 3 Stages of the Tour de France in the UK 3.5million spectators lining the route of the 3 Stages Nearly 2m fans watching live on ITV on both Saturday and Sunday Over 25 hours of live TV coverage A million spectators at the spectator hubs, starts and Fan Parks to watch across all three stages - 25,000 of whom were in the Ilkley hub out of an estimated 45,000 visitors to the town! 100 kilometres of barriers and fencing Over 70 kilometres of event bunting Busiest day in the history of Leeds Train Station with 243,000 passengersNearly 10,000 Tour Maker volunteers en route - the first ever to accompany a Tour de France Accompanied by the first ever cultural festival of its kind, the Yorkshire Festival attracting over 750,000 people to 1,400 performances 37 police forward escort riders giving high fives! Close to 100 different agencies working on delivering the event Over 3million pageviews on letouryorkshire.com over race weekend Over half a million people hashtagging in the build up to the Tour de France Yellow bikes everywhere! One amazing experience no-one will ever forget!   When The Tour Came to Yorkshire! (Watch the film! 3 mins)

Le Grand Départ of Le Tour de France - key information

If you're coming on 5th/ 6th July, you should visit our Ilkley community website  ilkley.org/letour

   

We’re delighted if  you’ve chosen to stay with us for Stage 1 and 2 of Le Grand Départ of The Tour de France 2014. (If you haven't - sorry - but we've been fully booked for 18 months! See ilkley.org/letour for accommodation options)  It will be a hugely memorable occasion as Ilkley and Wharfedale will be the showcase for this major world sporting event. The fact that we have Le Tour passing through on both days will make Ilkley and Wharfedale the natural choice for watching this spectacular and world famous race.  There are other things taking place too including The White Rose Classic cycling sportive, Ilkley town centre races and a major four-day hub event at Ilkley Riverside.

 

Hundreds of thousands of spectators are expected to line the route.  All major roads - including the A65 - will be completely closed for much of the weekend making normal road communications and parking impossible. Trains are being strengthened with extra coaches but are expected to be extremely busy.  Bus services will be largely cancelled. Car parks many miles outside of the area (even stretches of the A65 will be used for parking) will be full with people probably having to walk into town. The only vehicles that will be allowed through the blockages will be the emergency services (police, fire and ambulance).  Due to the large number of people and the (hopefully small) risk of some less than honest people being amongst the crowds we are taking a few extra security precautions here.  

Friday 4^th July - our normal check-in arrangements will apply on Friday 4^th July.  If you are arriving that day, we will be ready at 4pm prompt.  Please don’t arrive earlier as we have a lot of preparation to do.  However, we do urge you to arrive and get settled in as soon after 4 o’clock as possible.  Only vehicles that have been notified to us will be allowed to park at Westwood Lodge Ilkley Moor, so we will need the registration number of your car(s).  We strongly urge you to have all your weekend shopping, supplies of essential medicines etc. completed before Friday afternoon!       

Saturday 5^th July – the big day!  The event will pass through Wharfedale - including Ben Rhydding, Ilkley and Addingham - on it's way into the heart of The Yorkshire Dales and round to Harrogate. The caravan parade comes through from 1025 and the riders at around 1226.  All main roads are expected to be closed from 0530 until late afternoon.  As you will not be able to drive anywhere in Ilkley, we will be locking our main gates from 0800 until 1600.  Security will be in place and our premises monitored by CCTV by a member of our team.  

Sunday 6th   Le Tour returns from York, crossing the A65 and heading down through West and South Yorkshire, finishing in Sheffield.  Whilst the roads into Ilkley will be open, there will be no access along the A65 beyond Ilkley (towards Skipton) or on the back roads.

 

Where can I find out more?

• Le Tour de France Ilkley – ilkley.org/letour
• Le Grand Depart Yorkshire – letour.yorkshire.com
• Road closures www.bradford.gov.uk/bmdc/leisure_and_culture/sports_and_leisure/tour_de_france     

Le Tour Ilkley Moor silkscreen print from local artist

Local artist, Joy Godfrey, has produced a great new silkscreen print of a cyclist on Ilkley Moor.  It's £250 (unframed) or £50 for an A2 reproduction.  Joy will arrange a tour of her workshop for serious purchasers and you can see her work at Weaverbird on Wells Road.  See more of Joy at www.joygodfrey.com   

Ilkley Carnival May Day 2014

 

 (photo Ilkley Carnival)

"The wheels are in motion for another spectacular Ilkley Carnival with the 2014 theme, The Yorkshire Tour" - say the organisers of The Ilkley Carnival

"With a nod to the Tour de France which is careering through our town and some of Yorkshire’s most stunning landscapes in July, you can expect Ilkley Carnival 2014 to deliver another memorable parade as local schools, businesses and local groups reflect and recreate Yorkshire's historic landmarks, destinations, history and culture on May Day Bank Holiday Monday, 5th May.
Ilkley Carnival is embraced by the entire community so look out for an array of stunning shop window displays reflecting this year’s theme. And any child under 16 can join in the fun by entering the Carnival Cover design competition where the winning 2014 themed-design could adorn the cover of the event programmes.  Ilkley Carnival is an entirely volunteer-run event which invests profits made back into the community. Last year's sponsorship, ticket sales and donations raised over £12k for local charities, sports clubs and community groups and this year, beneficiaries will include local schools.

It will be a year to remember for Ilkley with the world's biggest annual sporting event, the Tour de France, racing through our town. May sees Ilkley Carnival kick off a season of unique celebrations and we’re counting on you to join us, join in, help make history and make a difference to our future.
Ilkley Carnival 2014, it's going to be one 'eck of a ride!"
(Ilkley Carnival 2014 website http://www.ilkleycarnival.org/ )

At the time of writing, we have just one apartment vacant for the May Day Bank Holiday 2014 weekend!

Tour de France Team Presentation

Yorkshire’s Grand Départ of the Tour de France is just weeks away and the first major event of this historic occasion is the official Tour de France Team Presentation Ceremony on Thursday 3rd July at the Leeds arena.

For the first time ever the presentation of the teams, featuring some of the greatest names in cycling, will be part of a unique show – making it the biggest in the history of the Tour de France.

Tickets for the Team Presentation Ceremony, held early evening on Thursday 3rd July at Leeds arena will go on sale on Friday 25th April from 9am with ticket prices at £45, £55, £65 and £85 at www.firstdirectarena.com

For an exclusive opportunity to purchase tickets ahead of this, join the thousands of others who have already pre registered by visiting www.letouryorkshire.com/teampresentation before it closes at midnight tonight (Tuesday 22nd April).
We have accommodation from Friday 27th June or Monday 30th until Friday 4th July, to enable you to be at Le Tour presentations.  Like everywhere, we're full for Le Tour weekend but can suggest local camping (bring own tent) and glamping (posh tent supplied)!
 
For more on Yorkshire’s Grand Départ see: www.letouryorkshire.com.

Tour de France LATEST!

So now we know the timings!

Saturday 5th July 

DEPART FICTIF ("virtual start") Leeds City Centre 1110.  This is the parade!

DEPART REEL at NOON.  This is when the action starts for real!

Caravans and sponsors pass through ILKLEY from 1029.  Riders come through at 1228

Sunday 6th July 

If you missed them in Ilkley - head just up the road to Addingham (3 miles) to see them again!  

Caravans and sponsors pass through Addingham from 1050. Riders come through at 1241

More info at www.letour.yorkshire.com

Ilkley gearing up for Le Tour

At a packed public meeting in town this week, we heard much more about Le Tour de France coming through and plans for The Ilkley Bike Show and Ilkley Cycling Festival Week.  There's also much more to come on the literary side.  It really is all happening! The news was even picked up by one of the UK national newspapers and the link is here:-

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/nov/29/tour-de-france-fever-yorkshire-dales

Time to Plan your Summer Cycling Holiday!

Cyling is rapidly becoming one of the most popular sports in Britain. Here in Wharfedale, they are hundreds of new cyclists out every weekend! Why? There's no doubt that the success in the Olympics followed by the exploits of Brits Sir Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish, Chris Froome and David Millar in the Tour de France has inspired a nation...

In 2014 the World's largest annual sporting event, the Tour de France, will be coming to Yorkshire and this will no doubt continue to raise the profile of this fantastic sport.  Don't forget that Le Tour is coming through Ilkley/ Addingham on BOTH days! 

What we would like to see as a result of all this success, is more people on the roads cycling as Yorkshire has some truely splendid routes to explore, for experts and for novices. So here are some ideas to get you on the road.

Buy a Bike!

Our local cycle shop is JD Cycles. 01943 816101. Click here or phone Jamie or Mitch! They can give you expert advice on the exact bike for you.

Hire a bike

For a relatively small charge you can take out a first-class bike for the weekend and explore Yorkshire in style. Dave Ferguson is your man 01756 795367.

Join our local cycling club

Cycling is a real community sport and Ilkley has the UK's fastest growing cycling club!  Click here. They are keen to recruit new members, whatever your level of experience.

Find the best routes

There are plenty of routes for you to explore, from routes suitable for family day rides through to Four routes any hardcore cyclist must try. Or if you are feeling particularly ambitious, why not cycle the very route that your cycling heroes will be cycling during the Grand Depart in 2014?

Sportives

There are a number of Sportives across Yorkshire each year, find out more here.

Information supplied with help from Welcome to Yorkshire.  Find out more about Le Tour here

(Yes, that's me -Tim! If I can get up that hill, anyone can!)

Philip Richardson - regular cycling guest who comes up from Essex

Y13 - Welcome to Yorkshire 2013

Thursday 21st March saw the UK's biggest tourism event. Y13 was organised by Welcome to Yorkshire showcased plans for Le Tour de France 2014 and other major events. It's was held at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds.

Latest from Y13 as it happened ...

Gary Verity (CEO) confirms that £10 million has been secured to host the event. Will some of this be available to fill potholes on the route?

Le Tour roadshow for Wharfedale businesses will be held in Ilkley on 8th May

Gary Verity announces plans for a "Bike bank" where children can borrow a bike to help them learn to cycle, whilst they save for their own.

Johnny Brownlee MBE (Olympic Gold Medalist) on stage arguing for getting the potholes filled! Sound man!

Plans announced to promote Rugby League World Cup being held later this year.

The Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle is being launched as a brand, promoting four key venues for art and culture. Festivals such as the Ilkley Literature Festival will feature heavily. see www.yorkshire.com
More to follow!

Yorkshire's entry at Chelsea Flower Show will have a cycling theme. Can it win visitors choice for the fourth year in a row?

The Dales returns to ITV in the spring. 4 million viewers every week!

Finally - Double Paralympic Gold winner Hannah Cockcroft MBE is on stage! Inspiring!

Find Out All About Le Tour 2014!

YES!  The world's greatest cycle race - the Tour de France - is coming to Yorkshire next year!  It will start HERE IN YORKSHIRE on 5th and 6th July 2014 bringing millions of fans to the Yorkshire roadside to cheer on the champions of the sport.  It comes to Ilkley and Wharfedale on BOTH DAYS, so we really are in the best place to see it!

It will be the first time Le Tour has visited the north of England having previously only made visits to the south coast and the capital.  Welcome to Yorkshire (we're members!)  are predicting a festival and spectacle for fans and first timers alike and are sure Yorkshire will rise to occasion and give the riders, the teams and the race organisers a Grand Départ to remember.  Here are some quotes from them...

"Yorkshire is a world class county and it will deliver a world class event"

"Over 3 billion people watch Le Tour on television every year providing a wonderful advert for our county and hopefully it will prompt people who maybe haven't visited before or not been in a while to book a break to visit"

 "This is undoubtedly Yorkshire's opportunity to welcome the world"

With the recent success of British riders, notably Bradley Wiggins becoming the first Briton to win Le Tour in 2012 shortly followed by a gold medal time trial performance in London, the popularity of cycling has never been higher.

 

A brand new website has been launched by Welcome to Yorkshire.  To find out more Click here to take Le Tour!

STOP PRESS: Just one apartment left at Westwood Lodge Ilkley Moor for Le Tour weekend - BOOK NOW!  We've still got accommodation for the run-up days and we're encouraging aspiring cyclists to come and try the route this summer!