New cycling stage race in Yorkshire unveiled on 100-day countdown to Tour de France Grand Depart

By Nick Butler

March 27 - A three-day stage race will be held in Yorkshire to follow the English county hosting the opening stages of the Tour de France later this year, it has been announced.

This follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed between British Cycling, Tour de France organisers ASO and tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire, in which all three pledged support for a sustainable race as well as for the growth of cycling in the region.

Under initial plans, the international race will be first held in May 2015 and will last for at least three years.

The announcement of the new race, which is expected to include a stage through the North York Moors to Scarborough, coincided with celebrations the mark the 100-day countdown until the Grand Depart of the Tour de France in Leeds on July 5.

It will, therefore, provide another opportunity for Yorkshire to host world class cycling following the Tour, which will spend three days in the region also consisting of stages ending in Harrogate and Sheffield.

It should also build on the success of other events held in Britain in recent years, as well as the success of British riders including the last two Tour de France winners Chris Froome and Sir Bradley Wiggins.

The race will provide another opportunity for British riders, including Chris Froome, to build on their recent success ©Getty Images

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, claimed "this new race will rank as a major new addition to the global cycling calendar", before adding: "It will be three days of cycling right the way across the county."

Similar views were expressed by the British Cycling director of cycle sport Jonny Clay.

"This is good news for cycling fans across the country but particularly in Yorkshire, where interest in the sport has rocketed thanks to the Grand Depart," he said.

"Principal among our criteria for approval is the long-term viability of an event, we want races which will return to inspire people year after year, and how effective it will be in getting more people and investment into grassroots cycling."