A new, three-day UCI Europe Tour event – the Tour of Yorkshire – could be raced in May 2015 after Welcome to Yorkshire and the ASO, supported by British Cycling, submitted an application to the UCI.
Proposed to run from Friday May 1 to Sunday May 3 next year, the proposed race would be a UCI 2.1 event as plans for the Grand Depart legacy are put into action.
It is hoped the race will benefit from international coverage and increase the enthusiasm for cycling in the UK, in a county organisers insist is ‘made for cycling’.
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme said: “Alongside the public interest for cycling, highlighted by the Grand Départ, Yorkshire boasts beautiful breathtaking scenery worthy of any of the cycling season’s major events.
“It therefore seems perfectly natural for Welcome to Yorkshire, British Cycling and ASO to continue working together in this new land of cycling, through the Tour of Yorkshire.
“In particular, this three-day stage race will offer television viewers worldwide the opportunity to continue discovering the splendid landscapes of this English region, a journey started by the Tour de France, whose Grand Départ this year will remain its founding act.”
Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Gary Verity, meanwhile, is delighted the legacy aimed for when the original Grand Depart bid was made looks to be coming to fruition already.
He added: “When we bid to host the Tour de France we did so in the knowledge that this would be the start of a long relationship with ASO.
“So I am delighted to be able to announce this exciting new race for Yorkshire. Our county is a new cycling heartland of Europe and we look forward to welcoming back some of the world’s best riders in Yorkshire in less than 12 months’ time.”
If approved, the race would become the fifth British event on the UCI Europe Tour calendar alongside the Tour of Britain, RideLondon-Surrey Classic, Rutland-Melton and the Beaumont Trophy.
Our county is a new cycling heartland of Europe and we look forward to welcoming back some of the world’s best riders in Yorkshire in less than 12 months’ time.
If, as hoped, it is granted 2.1 status, it would put it on a par with events such as the Route du Sud – won last month by Nicolas Roche (Tinkoff-Saxo) – and the Coppi e Bartali, which Peter Kennaugh (Team Sky) triumphed in earlier in the year.
Jonny Clay, British Cycling’s director of cycle sport said: “We will await the decision of the UCI but I am confident that ASO and Welcome to Yorkshire will create a world-class event attractive to the best teams in cycling.
“What is more, all three organisations are committed to ensuring the race delivers lasting benefits to cycling by engaging more fans for our great sport and by encouraging more people to get active by getting on their bikes.
“What is common to all our events work is a determination that they inspire participation in the sport and support the network of volunteers upon whom cycling is reliant at every level.”
