Last year’s Grand Depart of the Tour de France and this year’s Tour de Yorkshire have put Yorkshire firmly on the map for cyclists. Now riders are being invited to take part in a summer of cycling sportives.
The three events, all raising money for separate charities, are:
- Le Petit Départ in Skipton on 31 May;
- William’s Farm Kitchen Cycle challenge at Hornsea on 21 June
- Action Medical Research for children York 100 in York on 16 August.
Each rider who completes all three charity rides will receive a free Welcome to Yorkshire cycling jersey.
The three events have been selected to offer cyclists a great mix of routes and scenery and will take in some great areas of the county while raising a combined sum of more than £20,000.
Le Petit Départ was a new cycle event in 2014. Starting from Skipton, Le Petit Depart offers two routes to cater for all abilities: The 38-mile recreational ride and the 80-mile sportive.
It celebrates the very best cycling the Yorkshire Dales has to offer and follows much of the Tour de France 2014 Stage 1 route. Delivered by Craven District Council in partnership with Skipton Cycle Club, this year the recreational ride in memory of James Nelson, a club member who died last summer while out on his bike, will raise funds for Sustrans.
The William’s Farm Kitchen Cycle Challenge, in aid of the Rotary Club of Hornsea and East Riding, also has a choice of two routes of either 60km or 100km.
Both routes take advantage of the undulating, traffic-free lanes of Holderness and East Yorkshire, and the lack of significant climbs makes for a choice of a leisurely ride or a fast-paced training ride.
Action Medical Research’s York 100 ride will raise funds to help sick and disabled babies and children. It concludes the series with another varied route through the magnificent Yorkshire countryside.
Highlights include the Vale of York, Yorkshire Wolds and spectacular Castle Howard. Route choices include 40, 67 or 102-mile routes.
