Rio Heros!

Rio Homecoming Parade
Wednesday 28th September

Join us in Leeds city centre to welcome back our Rio Heroes!

Welcome to Yorkshire in association with Leeds City Council are excited to welcome back Yorkshire’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes with a special homecoming parade.

On Wednesday 28th September, a carnival atmosphere will take hold of the city as the
athletes are welcomed home in true Yorkshire style. A host of athletes have confirmed their attendance, including triathletes Alistair and Jonny Brownlee; World, European and Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft MBE; diver and gold medallist Jack Laugher and rowers
Andy Triggs Hodge and Paul Bennett who both claimed gold.

There will be a lively parade, with samba bands, brass bands, colourful performances and of course open top buses and vehicles carrying the athletes.

Parade celebrations will commence at 5.15pm, and we would love to see the people of Yorkshire come out in force to line the city centre route and cheer on these inspiring men and women.

Help us make this a party to remember!

Please click here to see the route.
For full information, please go to Yorkshire.com/rio.

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 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

Tour de France Coming to Ilkley!

The routes of the Tour de France 2014 in Yorkshire have been announced and there's been a bit of tweaking!

Day 1 - Saturday 5th July - Leeds Grand Depart > Harewood > ILKLEY > Skipton > Aysgarth > Middleham > Ripon > Harrogate (Sprint finish on The Stray)

Day 2 - Sunday 6th July - York > Knaresborough > Bolton Abbey > Keighley > Haworth > Hebden Bridge > Holme Moss > Sheffield

Find out more..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/21056721

Tour de France Yorkshire - The route...?

Although it won't be revealed by until a press conference (in both Leeds and Paris) on 17th January, "usually reliable sources" suggest the following is likely: -

Day 1 - Saturday 5th July 2014 - the start will be in Central Leeds, heading out through the grounds of Harewood House and then up and across - probably Sutton Bank - through The North Yorkshire Moors National Park - and across for a sprint finish on the sea front in Scarborough. 

Day 2 - Sunday 6th -  is expected to start in York City Centre heading across into The Yorkshire Dales National Park, coming down - hopefully through Ilkley and up past The Cow and Calf Rocks on Ilkley Moor, then down through Halifax and maybe ending in Sheffield City Centre.

All this is yet to be confirmed! It may prove wrong.  I'll bet it's not far off the mark though!  

We'll just have to wait - in the meantime go to yorkshire.com for the latest news

Tour de France - Latest

It is official: The world's greatest cycle race - the Tour de France - will start in the world's greatest county on 5th & 6th July 2014 bringing millions of fans to the Yorkshire roadside to cheer on the champions of the sport.

Welcome to Yorkshire reports...  "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. We guarantee it will be a festival and a 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. Yorkshire is a world class county and it will deliver a world class event.

This is Yorkshire's moment to shine. Over 2 billion people watch Le Tour live 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 us.

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. With that in mind it might be a good idea to think about booking your favourite Yorkshire hotel, bed and breakfast or campsite early to avoid disappointment!

Yorkshire is rightly proud to be able to say it will host the Tour de France. The county is a heartland of the sport and over the next few pages we celebrate Yorkshire's Grand Départ, Yorkshire's cycling champions, the county's iconic cycling landscapes and hopefully inspire more people to consider going uphill and down dale on two wheels in future".

Le Grand Depart will be in Leeds on Saturday 5th July 2014.  Competitors will tour the city and then head for The Yorkshire Dales.  Sunday will be in the North Yorkshire Moors (based on information provided by Welcome to Yorkshire). An announcement on 17th January 2013 will confirm the route and dates.

 

 

Snowed in (almost!)

Snowing since noon.  We're almost cut off here tonight.  Guests planning to go clubbing in Leeds had their minibus cancelled.  Everywhere still open in Ilkley though.  Best advice - forget the car, wrap up warm and head down into town on foot!  Pudding dog loving the snow tonight...

Leeds CyclePoint is the biz!

Based on a successful Dutch concept, you can now turn-up and hire bikes at Leeds Station - the first CyclePoint in the UK. We tried it this week to visit our architect (thanks Matt!). Friendly Andy at CyclePoint quickly sorted us out and within minutes we were cycling across the city centre, along the canal, under the flyover and away! No traffic jams, no taxis, no hassle! So if you're heading out for a day in Leeds (Harvey Nicks, Armouries Museum, waterfront cafes, nightlife etc), it's a great way of seeing the sites. Leeds City is just £4.90 return on the train (after 9.30am, anytime at weekends) and bike hire for the day is £8. Here's us with Paula whizzing through Holbeck just to prove it! (Photos: Matt Sturgeon Cyclepoint).

Red Open Top Buses in LEEDS?

Distinctive open top double-decker bus will offer a ‘hop on, hop off’ sightseeing service across a five mile route through Leeds fro today. The route will take in such sights as Millennium Square, the Corn Exchange and the Victoria Quarter. The Leeds City Cruises will take visitors along Leeds’ waterways historical route from Clarence Dock to Brewery Wharf and onto Granary Wharf. The bus stops at twelve sightseeing stops across the city. Visitors can “hop-on and hop-off” at each stop to explore throughout the whole day. The bus will run six times each day from 22nd May until 26th September and the Leeds City Cruises will run every weekend from 22nd May to 26th September, and every day throughout August. Tickets for Leeds City Sightseeing Bus will be £7.50 for an adult, £3.75 for children, concessions for students and seniors will be £5.50 and a family ticket will be £17.00. Tickets for Leeds City Cruises will be £3.00 for an adult, £1.50 for children, concessions for students and seniors will be £2.00 and a family ticket will be £6.50. Visitors can find out more about the services at www.yorkshire.com It is hoped the new tourism initiative will attract more visitors to the city and help grow the region’s visitor economy.

Where to Visit, Eat and Drink - Your latest views...

Some favourable reports... The National Railway Museum at York Ilkley Moor Vaults - "Great food and they take dogs too" The Box Tree - "For obvious reasons" Betty's - "Excellent as ever. Good food and lovely atmosphere" The train service into Leeds - "Excellent" The wonderful views from the apartments Bolton Abbey - "Beautiful surroundings" Ingleton - "waterfall walk, caves and great fish and chips" The Wells Bistro - "Good food" Monkman's - "Excellent Early Bird menu"

Ilkley Triathlon - 23rd September 2007

This has become a bit of an annual habit for a whole group of us in Wharfedale. The image of a triathlon always conjured up for me a picture of sinewy, anorexic-looking men and women sweating their way up and down mountains for hours on end, without an ounce of enjoyment to show for their endeavours. Well, I never thought I would join them! The Ilkley Triathlon is organised by Leeds and Bradford Triathlon Club and is a "sprint" (ie shorter) event. It's still 20 lengths of the pool, immediately followed by a 15km hilly cycle ride (with fresh air and great views!) and finishing off with a 5km hilly run. Hard work unless you're pretty fit, but a more helpful and encouraging group of people organising it, you couldn't hope to meet! Because everyone sets off at different times, and the course is in laps, nobody has any idea - or cares - how well you're doing. Indeed, there are quiet stretches where you could stop running or even push your bike uphill without anyone spotting you, if things are tough - even though 300 odd people do the event. Above all, there's this marvellous buzz as you cross the finishing line with that feeling of achievement! If you're thinking of getting a bit fitter this winter and want to have something to aim for then this could be it. Highly recommended!