Doncaster To Host 2016 Tour De Yorkshire Stage
Doncaster has been selected as one of six towns which will host a stage start or finish for the 2016 Tour de Yorkshire.
Racing will begin and end in Doncaster, Beverley Middlesbrough, Otley, Scarborough and Settle. The three day men’s race will be held between Friday 29 April and Sunday 1 May. The women’s race will be held on Saturday 30 April. Welcome to Yorkshire received fourteen expressions of interest to host a Tour de Yorkshire start or finish in 2016 or 2017. A small number of 2017 start and finish locations have also been confirmed today, with Fox Valley (Sheffield), Halifax, Harrogate and Selby announced as hosts. The inaugural Tour de Yorkshire was held in May this year and attracted one and a half million spectators and over six million global television viewers. Sir Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “From the first moments of the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire, everyone who was there knew it was something special. I’m delighted that we are able to bring the 2016 race to all four corners of Yorkshire.
"It is testament to how much the county has taken the race to its heart that we have been oversubscribed for next year’s starts and finishes. “The Tour de Yorkshire is an event in the cycling calendar that riders want to race in and we look forward to welcoming some of the world’s best riders back to Yorkshire next year.”
Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster, has welcomed the announcement.
Mayor Jones said:
"This is fantastic news for Doncaster. The 2015 event was a great success and I know it brought many benefits to the towns and cities involved. Now it is Doncaster’s opportunity."
"It's now our time to grab a piece of the action. This will raise the profile of Doncaster, our history and local towns and villages. "It is a great way of raising awareness of our fantastic local attractions, such as the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster Racecourse, Cusworth Hall, Brodsworth Hall, Conisbrough Castle as well."