The hypnotic whir of pedals and gears turning, the blur of multi-coloured lycra flashing through the countryside, the thrill of being up-close and personal with top professional athletes – cycling has a lot to offer as a spectator sport.
The growth in popularity of cycling in the UK has been driven by a combination of the fine work of bodies like British Cycling, the success of British cyclists on the road and in the velodrome and the fact that some of the sport’s biggest events have happened on our doorstep.
The Tour de France has visited British shores on several occasions over the last ten years, the World Track Championship has been held here three times since the year 2000 and we now also have our own top level cycling events that attract truly global audiences and participation.
One such event is the fast-growing Tour de Yorkshire, and this year the route couldn’t be more perfectly placed for you to watch it from your pitch at our Scarborough Club Site. Stage three of the four-day race on 5 May starts in the picturesque village of Richmond near the Yorkshire Dales and winds its way east across North Yorkshire, eventually finishing on the sea front at Scarborough. At around the 32-mile mark (52 kilometres), the route will run right past Scarborough Club Site along Field Lane and then turning right along the A165, leaving the site perfectly placed for you to get out and show your support for a field of top level cyclists and enjoy the spectacle of this well-regarded event.
I’m a reasonably big cycling fan myself and I have watched the Tour de France in Europe a few times, as well as when it passed through Yorkshire in 2014, and I can’t recommend watching pro road racing enough. It’s fantastic to see athletes so close to understand the strength and endurance they possess, and there’s also always a great party atmosphere among supporters. Whether you are a big cycling fan or know nothing about the sport, it is something that can be enjoyed by everyone… and it’s free!
Scarborough isn’t the only place you can catch the Tour de Yorkshire this year though, a couple of the other stages also run quite close to Club Sites elsewhere in ‘God’s Own Country’. Stage two on Friday 4 May starts in the South Yorkshire town of Barnsley, which is a mere 19 miles from Crowden Club Site and earlier on in the day on stage three on 5 May, the route passes very close to Slingsby Club Site. Stages one and two on 3 and 4 May will also be ridden by the two-day women’s Tour de Yorkshire.
Finally on stage four on Sunday 6 May, the middle part of the route comes within 18 miles of Boroughbridge Club Site – so there’s plenty of opportunity to line the roadside, wear something yellow to celebrate the leader’s jersey, and take part in the enjoyable atmosphere of the race. Chapeau!
Men’s Tour de Yorkshire route:
Stage one, 3 May: Beverley to Doncaster
Stage two, 4 May: Barnsley to Ilkley
Stage three, 5 May: Richmond to Scarborough
Stage four, 6 May: Halifax to Leeds
Women’s Tour de Yorkshire route:
Stage one, 3 May: Beverley to Doncaster
Stage two, 4 May: Barnsley to Ilkley
You can also find out more about the Tour de Yorkshire and the North Yorkshire coast by visiting the Discover Yorkshire Coast website.