Beverley to host start of 2020 Tour de Yorkshire

The eyes of the cycling world will be once again on East Yorkshire as Beverley will host the start of the 2020 Tour de Yorkshire.

At the launch event held today in Leeds, race organisers Welcome to Yorkshire and Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) confirmed that stage one of the men’s race on Thursday, 30 April will start in the East Riding and take in some villages that have never seen the race before.

Stage one, the Yorkshire Coast stage, will see some of the world’s elite cyclist line up in Beverley’s Saturday Market for the 176.5km race to Redcar with the race passing through towns and villages including:

• Tickton
• Leven
• Catwick
• Sigglesthorne
• Seaton
• Hornsea
• Atwick
• Skipsea
• Beeford
• Lissett
• Bridlington
• Sewerby
• Flamborough
• Bempton

Councillor Richard Burton, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “Today’s route announcement is fantastic news for the East Riding as the eyes of the cycling world will be on us as we host the start of the 2020 Tour de Yorkshire.

“Beverley is no stranger to hosting the start of the race and I am sure, once again, fans will come out in force not just for the start but along the route, to cheer the peloton on.

“It’s also exciting to see the race going through villages who have never seen the Tour de Yorkshire before and I encourage all communities to get into the spirit of things and decorate their towns and villages in support of this event.

“The race will showcase the East Riding to audiences both at home and abroad and put it on the map as a must-visit destination.”

James Mason, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “It’s exciting for me to be involved with the Tour de Yorkshire for the very first time and this year’s routes look fantastic.”

Christian Prudhomme, ASO’s Tour de France director said: “Once again, the team at Welcome to Yorkshire have done a tremendous job in designing such beautiful, challenging and varied routes and I am looking forward to seeing how both the races play out.

“They are both harder than ever before, and when you factor in the millions of fans that will be lining the route, we know that the 2020 edition will be one to remember.”

The complete schedule for the 2020 Tour de Yorkshire is:

Thursday 30 April – Stage One Men (176.5km): 

The Yorkshire Coast Stage – Beverley to Redcar

Friday 1 May – Stage Two Men, Stage One Women (both 124.5km): 

The Three Peaks Stage – Skipton to Leyburn

Saturday 2 May – Stage Three Men (134km), Stage Two Women (114.5km):

The Heritage Stage – Barnsley to Huddersfield

Sunday 3 May – Stage Four Men (177.5km):

The Yorkshire Classic – Halifax to Leeds

For more information go to www.letouryorkshire.com