Tour glory returns: the routes

‘North Bay is one of the finest finishes’ Sir Gary Verity

Scarborough will host another Tour de Yorkshire stage finish in 2018 –

the only town to achieve the accolade in each edition of the spectacle since it began in 2015.

It was announced by race organisers Welcome to Yorkshire and Amaury Sport Organisation that Scarborough will be part of Stage Three on Saturday May 5 and for the first time, the route will take in Filey (see page 27 for more).

The fourth Tour will start in the Yorkshire Dales town of Richmond. Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, announcing the details at The Piece Hall in Halifax on Tuesday, told a packed gathering: “The Scarborough stage will be 179km in total, going through 46 towns and villages, with two sprints and two king of the mountain climbs.

“It will include the climb at Sutton Bank, Helmsley, Pickering, East Ayton, Hackness and the climb at ‘Cote de Silpho’.

“It will then head to Scarborough, which has appeared in every edition of the Tour de Yorkshire. It’s one of the finest finishes, and the race will be in the town twice in two hours as it heads to Filey and back.

“The riders will go past Alpamare waterpark, the Open Air Theatre, and to Valley Bridge Road before going, for the first time, to Filey seafront, then Cayton, Eastfield, Seamer and the Scarborough finish.”

After Filey, the route is along Ramshill and around the castle headland to the legendary North Bay finish.

Pupils from Graham School attended the announcement ceremony, wearing T-shirts spelling out the word ‘Scarborough’.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance has been chosen as this year’s official charity partner.

Professional cyclists from around the world, including former World Champion Mark Cavendish, will battle it between Thursday 3 and Sunday 6 May, a day longer than previously.

The Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race goes from one day to two on 3-4 May, with one of the largest prize pots in the sport and a star cast of riders. The Maserati sportive for the public to take part will be back for a fourth successive year. Cllr Derek Bastiman, leader of Scarborough Council, said: “We are delighted to be given another chance to showcase a memorable finish in 2018.”

Cllr Andrew Jenkinson, member for tourism and culture, added: “Bumper crowds of visitors that weekend will be fantastic for businesses.”

This year’s race saw 2.2 million spectators line the route, was broadcast live in 180 countries and attracted 9.7 million TV viewers.

• MP Kevin Hollinrake’s delight for Filey – page 27.