THE Tour de Yorkshire will be visiting the Bradford district again next year.

Stage 4 of the men’s race from Halifax to Leeds on Sunday, May 5, will head along the A644 from near Queensbury to Haworth, taking in the cobbled Main Street.

The route then heads from Oakworth to Cross Hills, via the Cote de Goose Eye, and onto Skipton and the Yorkshire Dales before heading back to the area via Otley where the final categorised climb will be fought out on the Chevin.

The men’s race starts on Thursday, May 2, with a stage from Doncaster to Selby while the other two stages, which are also followed by the women’s race, go from Barnsley to Bedale and Bridlington to Scarborough.

The fifth edition of the men’s race has been upgraded to HC status by cycling’s world governing body the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) – the highest category possible for a multi-day race outside of the UCI WorldTour. It encompasses all four corners of the county and takes in 150 villages, towns and cities along the way.

The Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race meanwhile, will be held on a Friday and Saturday for the first time to allow more people to celebrate the race. Further new ground is also being broken by the fact both stages will be exactly the same as the men’s, meaning the 2019 edition will be the longest yet at 264km and also the hardest with over of 3,200m of cumulative climbing.

Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “We’re blessed with such a diversity of landscapes here in Yorkshire to create such challenging and exciting routes and we wanted the parcours to reflect that, showcasing the county in all its glory. There’s something for everyone; the sprinters will get their chance to shine while the classics specialists and climbers will also have opportunities to make their mark.

“With the UCI Road World Championships also taking place in Yorkshire next year, we’re expecting our strongest-ever field. This will be the only chance the riders get to sample the Harrogate circuit under race conditions before it, and the only chance they get to ride up Parliament Street against the usual flow of traffic.

“I’m also proud that we’re continuing to lead the way when it comes to promoting women’s cycling. Changing the start of the women’s race from Thursday to Friday should guarantee greater exposure and the routes for the two stages are now exactly the same as the men’s. That means there’s over 1,000m more cumulative climbing than last year and we’ll be in for some enthralling racing.”

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 a beautiful, challenging and varied route and I am looking forward to seeing how both races play out. Including the Harrogate circuit gives the race an added dimension next year and we want The Yorkshire Classic stage of the men’s race to become one of the most anticipated dates on the professional cycling calendar.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “We are delighted that once again the Bradford district will feature in the Tour de Yorkshire.

“The organisers Welcome to Yorkshire and Amuary Sports Organisation (ASO) have once more chosen some fantastic routes and Stage 4 will showcase the stunningly beautiful landscapes in our district especially the areas around Haworth and Goose Eye.

“I am so proud of those who put so much effort in to decorating the route and celebrating the Tour de Yorkshire when it comes to Bradford and I’m sure the crowds will be out on the streets of our district cheering on the riders.

“Next year is such a big year for cycling in Bradford with the Women’s Elite Race of the 2019 UCI World Road Championships starting in the city centre and the Men’s Elite Race coming through Wharfedale. Cycling fans in the district are in for a real treat.”