Tour de Yorkshire will bypass Ponte and Cas

The race will depart from Wakefield city centre towards Barnsley and Huddersfield, before finishing in Leeds on Sunday, May 3.

The route for the May 1 to 3 was unveiled yesterday in Bridlington but it was mixed news for cycling fans in this side of the district.

Andy Morgan, club secretary of Featherstone Road Club, said: “It would have been great to see it come through Pontefract, Castleford and Featherstone. But I think it is a great and tremendous route.

“It’s going to be a yearly race on the back of the Tour de France. We hope it will come through our area next year.

“However Wakefield is not a million miles away, neither is Leeds or Selby.”

The race opens on May 1 with a stage from Bridlington to Scarborough. Day two sees a ride from Selby to York. The three-day race finishes with 167km stage from Wakefield to Roundhay Park in Leeds.

The race is being organised by Welcome to Yorkshire and Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), with support from British Cycling and local authorities.

Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France at ASO, said; “After the grandest of Grand Départs of the Tour de France, we were keen to return to Yorkshire. With its stunning landscapes, iconic cities and tough climbs, Yorkshire offers all the ingredients needed for a great cycling race.

“The welcome we received in Yorkshire in July 2014 was simply spectacular and I am very much looking forward to returning there in May for the Tour de Yorkshire”.

Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “Before the Grand Départ had even finished people all across Yorkshire were asking when we can have more cycling!”