Tour de Yorkshire – Advice / Who's Going etc?

Its this weekend, but there deosn’t appear to have been that much publicity for it 🙁

Is there going to be a ‘caravan’ or will it be a Tour of Britain type thing, blink and you have missed it.

Will it draw the crowds like the TdF did?

I understand there is going to be a fan park in Ilkley, which I might try and get to, but where are you watching?

…and who’s actually riding it apart from Wiggins?

It’s a ToB style event – rolling road block, I’ve read that the road closures out on the route will be about an hour. Crowds wise, probably concentrated on the climbs but it won’t be anywhere near as big as the TdF.

Will probably nip over to Gooseye on Monday which is one of the last of the climbs.

My plan is to watch the start in Brid, jump on the train and then have a day in Scarbs and watch the finish.

Don’t think you’ll see much on Monday, it runs Friday to Sunday for some reason…

Gah! The last day. 🙄

Yeah I don’t get the Friday to Sunday when the its bank holiday Monday 🙄

There’s a fair few things going on in York including a pre-event Womens race, and a few street parties, that’s where I’m planning to be be. But also heard about a Bike Fest in sunny Selby on the radio: http://www.selby.gov.uk/news/media-releases/selby-cycle-festival

All the riders

Bit of a mix of A and B list teams, but a few big names – Tommy Voeckler will inspire with a mammoth but ultimately doomed break, Ben Swift will trail in behind Marcel Kittel when the Sky train fragments in the last 3k.

Sure there’ll be some keen home-grown riders to shake it up a bit too – should make some good racing 😀

I’m dong the sportive – 140 style – so if you could give me a push up Gooseye, whitestone. I’ll be the 16st Scotsman in a black Northern Powergrid top.

We’re up in the Dales so on Sat I’m planning to ride down to Ilkley, do a bit of Sunday’s race route up the Cow and Calf and back up past Bolton Abbey, then probably head to Ilkley on Sunday and see them up the Cow and Calf, after I’ve picked a likely spot for the family on my Saturday recce.

Going on the countdown timer on the site, it’s a 1pm start on Sunday, 40kph so a 4 hour race? Ilkley from 3ish I guess.

It comes past the top of my road on Sunday but fortunatly I’ll be up a big hill in Mid – Wales along with 1000 others at Dfyi Enduro

Ahh….
http://letour.yorkshire.com/timings

Will probably do a bit of an MTB loop on t’moor and end up on the Cow n Calf road in time to see them struggle past, then to the pub!

Alternatively, I might just find the Ilkley Brewery beer tent and stay there.:)

They’re clearly expecting massive crowds round our way, the local council has stuck litter bins all along the route for some reason, even on the boring bits miles from anywhere. If the weather is ok I’m off to the Cote De Scapegoat Hill on the Sunday with the 6yo as it’s just a nice short bimble down the canal for us, and it’s steep enough to slow down even the fast boys a little bit.

Looking forward to watching it on the telly. 🙂

I’ll be on the Cote Du Scape too as it’s about 100 yds from my house.

Got a few friends racing but I will be firing up the eurosport player!

On Friday, I’m planning on parking somewhere near Pickering, then riding up to watch them climb out of Rosedale.
On Sunday, me and the wife are riding into Wakefield to watch the start, then I’ll be riding over to Leeds for the finish.

Was planning a day on t’moors Friday, but my dad has had his eye op rescheduled so that’s out. Plan B is to ride up to Selby for the start on Saturday, then head on to York via the excellent Blacksmiths Arms in Naburn, then mooch along to and around York for the finish. Then ride back to Doncaster, beer permitting.

York on Saturday. We were going to ride over there from home but I will be saving my legs I think – will probably drive to just outside York and then ride the last bit to save having to find somewhere closer to park.

We live in Roundhay so I’m doing the sportive (108k) then watching the finish. Depending on timings/the state of my legs/how crowded it is I may cycle back out to Black Hill or somewhere like that, but I suspect I’ll just dump the bike at home and head back down to the park.

Change of plan from Hampshire to Harrogate and I’ll be joining RCCMCR for a ride and a pint or two then off to watch the TdY with a few lads from that there London 😀

Its this weekend, but there deosn’t appear to have been that much publicity for it

It’s been all over the TV.

IGM – I’m also in for the 140k on Sunday. I’ll be on an old red steel Vitali and probably waterproofs. Starting just after 7.

White Planet X and pink Rapha gillet

0706 start and walking the 20% gradients (possibly). Looking for a finish – any finish that beats the cut offs.

Maybe see you there.

I’ll be watching it just after the start on Sunday I think as it rolls through Sandal.

IGM – I’ll keep an eye out. I’m out at 7.10, but the 2 I’m riding with are out at 7.02 and 7.06, so we’ll be off around the same time.

I’ll have a floro yellow waterproof top – probably similar to the other 1000’s of people.

I’ll be in sheffield all day sunday so was a bit disapointed that the race will be nowhere near.

Good afternoon out, not sure how many 1000’s turned out, but there were a few 1000 people out.

This bloke went past quite slowly….

Well I did my ride, 52 in cold/rain on Sat. Loved it.

Somehow got a parking place at the Cow and Calf cafe today and had a great day with the big crowd cheering the sportive and race on. Brilliant atmosphere, got some good photos to sort when I get home.

Went up Friday during day with my brother set up tent in Farnham(our base for the three days)drove over to Robin Hood bay watched on the climb out quite a few people out weather not bad ,Saturday drove to Selby to watch the start very crowded then off to York watched in the city centre can’t remember the road name but it was down hill pave section ,up VERY early Sunday quick brekkie then off to the cow and calf got a good parking space then settled in and guarded our spot lol 😀 then off home (5hrs drive),all in all got to see some of the best pro riders very close up had a right laugh with my brother and drank some good ale and coffee I hope it’s back next year but right now off to plan where to watch tour of Britain.

Think this might have kicked off a bit of an additiction

A few shots of mine from opposite the caf on the Cow and Calf.

Check out the guys behind Wiggo, tongues hanging out! Chopper over the rocks:

Stage 3 coming through my village:

Beardy chap second from last looks familiar, doesn’t he?