TOUR DE YORKSHIRE 2017: Details of route through Bradford district are announced

Bradford will host the start of the final day of racing for the Tour de Yorkshire 2017, it has been announced.

Stage 3 of the event, on Sunday, April 30, will begin in Bradford's City Park and pass Lister Park and Saltaire, with racing beginning just outside Baildon.

Riders will then go on through Menston, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Ilkley, Addingham, Bolton Abbey, Burnsall, Linton, Skipton, Kildwick, Silsden, Riddlesden, Keighley, Haworth, Oxenhope, Denholme, Queensbury, Halifax, Brighouse, Cleckheaton, Birstall, Liversedge, Gomersal and Holmfirth, and end at Fox Valley in Sheffield.

Some of the biggest attractions in the district will be given an international stage along the route, including Lister Park in Manningham, East Riddlesden Hall and the World Heritage Site of Saltaire.

The route from Bradford will take in 46 towns and villages and have the nickname the Yorkshire Terrier.

Announcing the route at Bradford's Impressions Gallery this morning, Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, described it as a "very interesting stage" with 3,500 metres of climbing.

There will be eight major climbs, including four in the final 20 kilometres. The entire route is 194 kilometres long.

While the announcement was taking place, City Park offered a glimpse of what the race will bring, as cycling clubs and schools descended on the area around the mirror pool to ride their bikes.

The first stage of the event, on Friday 28 April, starts in Bridlington and ends in Scarborough, covering 173km, with 110km (63 per cent) of those in North Yorkshire. This route will take in Norton, Malton, Amotherby, Kirby Misperton, Pickering, Sleights, Whitby, Robin Hoods Bay and Scarborough.

Stage 2 on 29 April, starts in Tadcaster and ends in Harrogate, covering 123km, with 108km (88 per cent) in North Yorkshire. This route will take in Knaresborough, Ripley, Pateley Bridge, Masham, West Tanfield, Ripon, Hampsthwaite and Harrogate.

Stage 3 on 30 April, starts in Bradford and ends in Fox Valley Sheffield, with approximately 20 per cent of the route in North Yorkshire, 38km of the full 194km. This route will take in Bolton Abbey, Burnsall, Linton, Skipton and Kildwick.

Guests gathered for the announcement at Bradford's Impressions Gallery

Christian Prudhomme, head of the Tour De France, praised the route and the "growing appetite" for cycling in Yorkshire.

He also said it was "a matter of when, not if" the Tour De France returned to Yorkshire.

Sir Gary Verity said: “We are thrilled to be bringing the Tour de Yorkshire through Bradford city centre for the first time, which will be a fantastic backdrop for either a start or finish.

"Last year's race boosted the economy by nearly £60 million, and saw more than two million spectators line the route, so Bradford - and the other host towns and their surrounding areas - will reap the benefits of hosting the race."

Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe said: "When other races have passed through the district in the past, people have asked why they can't start it in the city centre, so I'm delighted we've finally managed to achieve that. Today was a taste of the excitement there will be when the race comes here."

Naz Shah, Bradford West MP, said; “I’m so proud that this is happening in Bradford. This is fantastic for the area, there will be a huge buzz about it.

“It is passing through Lister Park, the best park in the country, and I think there will be huge crowds there.”

Judith Cummins, Bradford South MP, was pleased the race was passing through Queensbury, adding: “I’m more than happy, I’m delighted. We need people to be more positive about Bradford, and this will really help.”

The official partner charity for the Tour de Yorkshire will be the Alzheimer's Society.

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