Residents urged to turn the town blue and yellow for tour

The highly-anticipated race timings for the 2017 Tour de Yorkshire have been unveiled by Welcome to Yorkshire. Millions of spectators will line the route for the three-day men’s race and one-day women’s race which run between 28-30 April.

The timings have been calculated by anticipating the peloton’s average speed but are subject to change depending on variables such as wind speed, direction and how aggressively the riders race. Timings for the newly expanded race caravan have also been included and list the stop-off points where fans will be treated to a host of promotional goodies from the official race partners.

The Stage of the Coast and Wolds on Friday April 28 will begin at 12.35pm outside Bridlington Spa and the first intermediate sprint will be contested in Pocklington at 1.48pm before the peloton tackles the Côte de Garrowby Hill at 2.06pm.

The next categorised climb comes on the Côte de Goathland at 3.42pm, and the race reaches the coastline again at Whitby for the second intermediate sprint point outside Whitby Abbey at 4.03pm.

The Côte de Robin Hood’s Bay must then be ascended at 4.19pm before the now legendary finish along Scarborough’s North Bay at 5pm.

The times listed are for the fastest expected speed of the riders but people are encouraged to get into place at least 30 minutes ahead of time. Scarborough is also being encouraged to turn the town blue and yellow and get on board with the huge community effort for the Tour de Yorkshire.

That’s the message from Welcome to Yorkshire, to make the most of the spectacular cycling event when it comes to Scarborough for the third year running.

Pedal power is set to sweep the area once more as the excitement builds and Janet Deacon, area director at Welcome to Yorkshire, is calling on the community to get involved by adding the Tour colours around town.

She said: “The publicity that this event brings to the region is phenomenal.

“We are encouraging local community groups to get involved in decorating the route in turquoise and yellow, entering the hugely popular Land Art Competition, placing yellow bikes and flags around their businesses and becoming a volunteer Tour maker.

“There are many ways in which local communities can engage with the event.”

The event is set to bring star names from the cycling world to our area once more, with last year’s champion, Thomas Voeckler, returning to defend his title in April.

Sir Gary Verity, chief executive at Welcome to Yorkshire, the organisers behind the event, said: “The Tour is synonymous with spectacular racing and huge crowds, and every year it just gets bigger and better.

“One of the special things about the race is the way local businesses and communities come out to support it.”