A LAND art contest – won last year by a Keighley-district entry – has been launched again to celebrate the Tour de Yorkshire.

Welcome to Yorkshire – organiser of the acclaimed cycle race – is urging schools, community groups, businesses and landowners to ‘think big’ and get creative.

Last year’s winning design, featuring a winking goose and turkey riding 70s Chopper bikes, was painted onto a field near the Côte de Goose Eye climb.

In tandem with the launch of the land art contest, communities and individuals are being encouraged to enter a ‘best dressed’ competition. It recognises those towns, villages and host locations with the most spectacular and eye-catching decorations. There is also a Spirit of Le Tour award, which honours an individual, community or business that goes above and beyond to celebrate the Tour.

Following the event, a shortlist of the best entries in each category will be drawn-up and put to a public vote.

A new online entry process has been developed for both competitions this year – visit letouryorkshire.com/competitions for more details.

The deadline for entries is midnight on Sunday, April 26, but early submissions are recommended so that TV producers can be advised as part of their coverage planning.

Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive, James Mason, said: “This is the first time I’ve worked on a Tour de Yorkshire, but I’ve watched it with interest ever since it started and have always been blown away by the lengths people go to in order to support the race. Every year whole towns and villages are draped in yellow and blue flags, and those giant land art pieces are always spectacular.

“We organise these competitions to honour those people around the county who go to such great lengths to get behind the race. Last year we had hundreds of entries and thousands of people cast their votes, and I can’t wait to see the submissions for this year’s competitions.”

Andrew Wood, who worked on last year’s winning land art submission, said achieving the accolade was “brilliant”.

He added: “It was amazing to know so many people had voted for us. The moment the TV helicopter zoomed in on our design during the race was an experience I’ll never forget. To know 28 million people around the world were seeing what we’d created was a fantastic feeling and it made all our efforts worthwhile.”

This year’s Tour de Yorkshire runs from Thursday, April 30, until Sunday, May 3.

The fourth and final stage passes through the Worth Valley and South Craven

A roadshow is being held at the Old School Room, Church Street, Haworth, on Monday, March 2, from 6pm to 8pm, to provide more information about the race and to offer advice on how people can capitalise on the event.