THE CONFIRMED ROUTES for the 2020 Tour de Yorkshire and Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race were revealed at Leeds Civic Hall on Friday morning, with parts of the Bradford district among the locations.

James Mason, the new Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, greeted a packed press conference alongside Christian Prudhomme, Amaury Sport Organisation’s General Director of the Tour de France.

Also in attendance were professional cyclists Dame Sarah Storey and Pete Williams, with Lizzie Deignan and reigning men’s champion Chris Lawless sending in special video messages.

The sixth edition of the men’s race will take place between 30 April – 3 May and will form part of the inaugural UCI ProSeries.

The Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race, meanwhile, runs between 1-2 May, and will showcase “elite cycling talent”, the Tour de Yorkshire’s official website says.

Stage one of the men’s tour begins in Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire, before heading up the east coast towards Redcar.

Stage two will see riders cycle through Skipton and North Yorkshire, while stage three, on Saturday 2 May, will pass through the Bradford district – cyclists will descend on Oxenhope, the nearby ‘Côte de Leeming’, Denholme, Keelham and Queensbury – along their journeys from Barnsley to Huddersfield, with stage two of the women’s race also following this route.

Stage four of the men’s race will run from Halifax to Leeds, which will hit the Bradford district by way of Haworth, Oakworth and Ilkley.

James Mason, the new 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.

“We’re lucky to have such a diversity of landscapes here in Yorkshire and these races will have something for every type of rider. I’m really looking forward to it and I’m sure we’re in for some really exciting action.”

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.

“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.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “We are delighted that once again the Bradford district has been chosen as a location for the Tour de Yorkshire. I’m sure that people from across the district and in local communities will join in the celebrations, line the route and give a warm welcome to this prestigious cycle race.”

“We’re thrilled that the district will see two stages of this year’s race which will feature Queensbury, Keelham, Oxenhope, Haworth and Oakworth. There will also be a climb at both Côte de Goose Eye and Cow & Calf, and a sprint at Ilkley.

“We’ve hosted the Tour de France Grand Depart, the Tour de Yorkshire several times and last year welcomed the world to our doorstep with the UCI Road World Championships. Each of these exciting events have proven to bring great enjoyment as well as economic benefits to the district.”