I bet you have heard all about the Tour de France. But have you ever heard of the Tour de Yorkshire?
The famous Tour de France is a competition where steely cyclists bike some 3500 km through the French countryside and up and down steep mountains during three summer weeks every year. It is considered one of the toughest biking races in the world and it has taken place for over 100 years. Tour de Yorkshire is less known, to say the least. It all started last year, when the first stage of Tour de France in fact was held in English Yorkshire.
The distance run in the Midlands worked really well for the cyclists, so this year the organizers in Yorkshire have launched their own race, the Tour de Yorkshire. Participants can choose how far they want to cycle. They pick a distance of either 50 km, 108 km or 140 km. There is also a women’s event and they all cycle 50 km.
What is great about the Tour de Yorkshire? It is a unique event for a lot of different people to come together. Men and women, as well as professionals and just sporty amateurs. The same routes will be used for everyone. The race will take place on May 1-3 this year, and consists of three “etappes”, one for each day. Organizers expect thousands of people to turn up, both as participants and spectators.
By Ed