Yorkshire Festival of Cycling

The Tour de France is coming to town, giving UK riders a rare opportunity to ride the same routes as the world’s best cyclists and to watch the race from the roadside. While not strictly a sportive, the Yorkshire Festival of Cycling gives you the chance to combine both with a series of guided rides.

The three-day festival will give fans the opportunity to see the Tour de France first-hand as it passes through the grounds of Harewood House on stage one. However, led rides will also take place on Saturday July 5 (stage one) and Sunday July 6 (stage two) to get the best view of the action as it passes through the rest of Yorkshire.

The ride organisers have liaised with the Yorkshire Police to plot routes which avoid the road closures that will be put in place on race day and to offer the best vantage points. The rides will vary from 30 to 65 miles in length and have been split into gentle (12mph), medium (15mph) and quick (18mph) groups. Each ride costs £25 per person.

Otherwise, Yorkshire isn’t short of sportives throughout the year and the Richmond 5 Dale, set to take place on Saturday May 4, is among the toughest. To celebrate the arrival of cycling’s greatest race in the White Rose county, this year’s 115-mile route has been tweaked to include eight ascents, including three of the main climbs to feature in the Tour: Kidstones, Buttertubs and Whipperdale Bank. Shorter 85 and 60-mile routes are also available.

Date: Saturday July 5 and Sunday July 6
Routes: 30-65 miles
Price: £25
Website: Yorkshire Festival of Cycling