Tour de Yorkshire roadshow rolls into town

Excitement is building for the Tour de Yorkshire which rolls into the district in the spring.
Cyclists race through Wakefield city centre in the Tour de Yorkshire last year.Cyclists race through Wakefield city centre in the Tour de Yorkshire last year.
Cyclists race through Wakefield city centre in the Tour de Yorkshire last year.

Some of the world’s best riders will race wheel-to-wheel on streets through Kellingley, Knottingley, Pontefract and North and South Elmsall during the second stage of race.

The Tour de Yorkshire will take place over three days between April 29 and May 1.

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And the riders, including Britain’s first Tour de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins, are expected to compete in front of tens of thousands of spectators and millions more watching on television.

Welcome to Yorkshire hosted a roadshow at The Westfield Centre in South Elmsall to give businesses and the community an insight into the race on Tuesday.

South Elmsall Town Council clerk Clare Baxter said the race is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them to sell the area to the rest of the world.

She said: “Everyone is really excited about the race coming through South Elmsall.

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“The roadshow was well attended and gave lots of information about the route, which we now know will go down Mill Lane, onto the high street and then along Doncaster Road.

“The organisers said they will be giving out gifts and memorabilia along the route so there will be a lot going on.”

Staff at South Elmsall Town Council plan to serve Yorkshire-themed food at a cafe in The Westfield Centre, while dressing up in 1940s clothing.

They will also be showing the race, which will be broadcast in more than 150 countries, at the facility.

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Mrs Baxter said: “We only have a short space of time to all get behind the event. We have really got to pull out all the stops and we want everyone to get involved.”

Anyone wanting to find out more about the Tour de Yorkshire should call the town council on 01977 642335.

Pontefract Cycling Festival has been granted ’National A’ status by British Cycling, which means professional riders and teams can compete at the event.

The announcement will see the return of the elite race at the festival, which will take place on Sunday, June 12.

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And cyclists who compete in the Tour de Yorkshire will now be eligible to race at the festival.

The event will also include a fun fair, a cycling jumble sale, food stalls and bouncy castles.

The festival’s organiser Ashley Brown said: “This is great news as it will attract some class riders back to Pontefract.

“We have the Tour de Yorkshire passing through the town two months earlier and we hope a lot of the riders will return for the circuit race in June.

“The goal is to deliver a cracking event for the community.”

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