Tour Makers recruited for inaugural cycle race

Volunteers have been recruited to welcome spectators to the first ever Tour de Yorkshire international cycle race in May.

Following the success of last year’s Tour de France Grand Départ, where nearly 10,000 volunteers welcomed more than three million spectators from all over the world, Welcome to Yorkshire has asked some of the Tour Makers to support this year’s inaugural three-day race.

For the Tour de Yorkshire, a smaller number – just under 2,000 volunteers – will help give a warm Yorkshire welcome to up to one million people that are expected to turn out for the three stages for the race as it weaves its way through the county.

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The Tour Makers have already completed a training programme for the Tour de France Grand Départ and will now have additional training from West Yorkshire Police at their headquarters in Wakefield over the next couple of months. A special training programme has been developed for this by Sheffield Hallam University.

Stage one of the Tour de Yorkshire, on 1 May, will start in Bridlington and finish in Scarborough. Stage two, on 2 May, will start in Selby and travel through Market Weighton, Stamford Bridge, Holme-on-Spalding Moor, Sancton, North Newbald and Foggathorpe and finish in York. Stage three, on 3 May, will start in Wakefield and finish in Leeds.

Meanwhile, it has been announced that the Tour de Yorkshire will feature a women’s race. Entries are now being taken for the women’s road race being held on the York circuit of the Tour de Yorkshire when it visits the town on 2 May.

The race will be held over four laps of a 20km circuit around York with the same infrastructure being used for the Tour de Yorkshire later that afternoon. The race will start at 11am, and with the closed roads, riders can expect significant crowds and an exhilarating racing atmosphere.

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British Cycling licensed riders from Elite, 1st, 2nd and 3rd categories will be able to enter.

In addition, a women’s only mass participation cycle ride – the Cycletta – will take place on 3 May. Hundreds of women are expected to take part in the event which will include part of stage 3 of the Tour de Yorkshire. Full details for the race, map and entry forms can be found on the British Cycling website - www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/128520/Women’s-Tour-de-Yorkshire