York Tour de France route announced: street by street guide
Since it was announced that York was to be a starting point of the Tour de France 2014, we’ve been waiting to learn which streets the world’s best cyclists would be hurtling down.
Et voilà! The route was announced today (October 23) and it goes like this (scroll down for Google map)…
Start
Riders set off from York Racecourse on Sunday, July 6, 2014, before bombing along Campleshon Road.
They take a sharp left down Bishopthorpe Road, taking them past The Swan pub, before joining Bishopgate Street and crossing the river.
To the shops
Another sharp turn onto Tower Street brings them past Clifford’s Tower, then on to Nessgate before joining Spurriergate and Coney Street, presumably cleared off shoppers.
City’s heart
This brings the cyclists to the Mansion House where a quick U-turn follows to bringing them diving down Davygate. A left turn around St Sampson’s Square brings them to Church Street and on to Goodramgate.
Then it’s the most acute corner of the lot, as they almost double back on to Deangate and Minster Yard, to try out the new piazza. But no time to take in the glories of York Minster: Chris Froome and co head for Duncombe Place and a right onto St Leonard’s Place, past York Theatre Royal.
Go west
From here it’s a sprint along the straight of Bootham and Clifton, before a left around Clifton Green on to Water End.
After crossing the river and the railway the tourers get to Boroughbridge Road, across the ring road and on to the A59.
Out of York
From here, York waves goodbye to the competitors as they head for the lesser delights of Knaresborough, Harrogate, Keighley and Holmfirth before the 200km leg ends at Sheffield.
Book your spot along the route now…
Reaction
City of York Council welcomed the unveiling of the official route of stage 2 of the 2014 Le Grand Depart that will run from York to Sheffield.
Cllr Sonja Crisp, cabinet member for leisure, culture and tourism, said: “It is a great honour for York to host the start of stage 2 of the 2014 Tour de France.
“I am delighted that the route will take in the city’s heritage by passing some of York’s most famous landmarks, such as The Minster and Clifford’s Tower. With Le Tour being shown in 188 countries to 3.5 billion people, York will truly be seen on a global stage.”
Kersten England, City of York Council chief executive and regional legacy lead, said: “The Tour de France is the world’s biggest sporting event and to have it come to York gives York and the wider region a great chance to create a lasting legacy.
“We are already starting to see the effect that Le Grand Depart is having in York and the rest of Yorkshire.
“I hope that even more people will be inspired by seeing the likes of Sir Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome competing in the world’s biggest annual sporting event on the same roads that they could be cycling along.”
The director of Le Tour is Christian Prudhomme. He called the Grand Départ in Yorkshire “visually stunning”.
“The British cycling fans are passionate people and I am sure they will line the routes of the three stages cheering the teams and riders all the way from Yorkshire to London, providing an unforgettable start to the 2014 Tour,” he said.
Dates and legacy
The 101st running of Le Tour will start in Leeds on July 5 with a 190km stage taking the riders to the spa town of Harrogate. Stage 2 will start from York with the riders tackling a 200km stage with climbs including Holme Moss on the way to Sheffield.
York representatives will also be promoting Yorkshire’s commitment to ensuring a cycling legacy – the first such commitment in the history of the event – positioning the region as a great place for safe and inspiring cycling destination.
Yorkshire legacy partners aim to improve health, the environment and the economy in Yorkshire; through the promotion and increased use of cycling as a transport mode, as a pastime and for sport.
An official road map of the route can now be seen at the Le Tour Yorkshire website.
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any chance that YORK MIX can publish the road closures for York as The Press don’t seem to care only printing those for Harrogate. this should be a fantastic event if only York City council can get it organised and promoted properly.
Good call Ian. Will look into it.
Once again, your information is detailed and clear, streets ahead of your competitors!