TOUR DE YORKSHIRE CYCLE RACE BURSTS INTO ACTION
‘Arts and Culture’ stage attracts remarkable crowds for men’s and women’s races on day one of spectacle
RURAL IDYLL: The women’s race leaving Beverley on Stage One of the race, on its way to a finish in Doncaster, where Holland’s Kirsten Wild took first place. The men’s race followed later in the day and a breakaway group reached the finish first with Yorkshireman Harry Tanfield winning and becoming the first Briton to win a stage.
ONCE AGAIN Yorkshire proved it is the home of cycling as the sun shone and huge crowds turned out for the county’s own race.
The opening stage of the fourth edition of the Tour de Yorkshire was played out in a blaze of colour yesterday over an 182km course from Beverley to Doncaster.
The so-called Arts and Culture stage attracted the remarkable crowds which have become a feature of the race since it began in 2015 as a legacy of the previous year’s Tour de France Grand Depart.
Women’s winner Kirsten Wild, from Holland, was cheered by spectators packed several deep as she crossed the finish line on Doncaster’s Bennetthorpe.
It was her second victory in the town, following the oneday race two years ago and she enthused: “The crowds here are amazing. We started at 8am and there were so many people at the roadside.”
British rider Anna Christian was in one of the day’s breakaways and won the prize for the most active rider.
“It is so nice to see the crowds, even in some parts where you wouldn’t expect people to be stood,” she said.
“They really cheer you on. There’s not many races where you get that.”
Among spectators at the start in Beverley were an enthusiastic group of youngsters from the town’s St Nicholas Primary School.
Teacher Christine said the race has dominated lessons for several week.
“We have been making flags and all sorts,” she said.
“It has certainly encouraged the children.”
Almost 2,000 volunteers answered an appeal to act as tour makers for this year’s race, which will be staged over four days for the men and two for the female riders.
Tour maker Kath, on duty in her hometown of Beverley, said: “Our role today is to help the crowd that’s here, to inform them exactly what’s happening and basically just answer any questions they have.”
Colleague Chris travelled from Hull to help at the start of yesterday’s stage. He added: “I was a volunteer for the city of culture last year. I was here as a member of the public last year and I really enjoyed it so I thought I would get involved.”
East Riding County Council chairwoman Caroline Fox was among spectators at the start yesterday.
“It has been a wonderful day, I have thoroughly enjoyed it,” she said. It has been wonderful watching the bike ride go through the parishes I represent, Airmyn and Rawcliffe.
“Everybody has got involved, all the school children - as I’ve gone round Beverley I’ve noticed how much hard work has gone into it all.
“You have no idea until you see it all. Everybody has joined in, it is just like magic and the weather has been very kind to us.”
You have no idea until you see it all. Everybody has joined in.
Caroline Fox, East Riding County council chairwoman.
A MOVE by an award-winning business to respond to the “huge boom” in cycle tourism has won the support of planners, despite being met with a string of objections.
Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority officers have recommended a scheme to expand the Dales Bike Centre in the Upper Swaledale and Arkengarthdale Barns and Walls Conservation Area be approved.
Officers said since the Dales Bike Centre in Fremington, near Reeth, opened in 2009 cycle tourism had “increased dramatically with the Tour de France and the subsequent emphasis on cycle tourism”, adding that the new family-friendly Swale Trail cycle route would further demand.
The centre’s owners, Stuart and Brenda Price, are seeking permission to build a single-storey accommodation block, another building for a sauna, showers and additional bicycle storage and extend their cafe from 23 to 70 covers.
Mr Price said: “Our current bunk accommodation, although high quality and very popular, is not meeting the expectations and requirements for this new sector within the cycle tourism market. We believe that currently Dales Bike Centre and the Yorkshire Dales are being overlooked as they don’t have the facilities this new customer is seeking.”
Consequently, he said the scheme would include features such as decontamination areas in the bedrooms for cyclists to clean up after rides.
Alongside increasing staff numbers at the centre, it is hoped the move would potential to boost visitor numbers out of the tourist season, which is seen by park bosses as key to boosting the local economy.
Mr Price said: “Cycling and more specifically mountain biking is a year-round activity. By improving our accommodation offer and making their stay as comfortable as possible we will be able to attract visitors throughout the winter months.”
However, nearby residents say the proposed expansion is inappropriate in the “peaceful historic village location” which lies within medium and high probability zones for flooding.
An officers’ report to the authority’s planning committee next week states objectors believe “the design of the proposal would be more akin to a ranch or motel and would be in appropriate and out of character in the Dales”, and lead to more traffic and disturbance in Fremington.
The report dismisses those claims and other concerns, such as the buildings would lead to increases in flooding and flood neighbouring properties.
The report states that while the proposed redevelopment is on a relatively large scale, it would not result in a significantly harmful impact on the national park landscape or heritage assets.
It adds: “There is little that can be done through the planning process to control issues such as guests of the bike centre visiting the local pubs in Reeth and returning late at night as such behaviour could occur with any visitor accommodation.”
The design of the proposal would be more akin to a ranch or motel.
A report describes one of the objections to the plans.