Van Avermaet wins recordbreaking Tour de Yorkshire
Over 2.6 million fans flock to watch 2018 race over sun-drenched bank holiday weekend
The 2018 Tour de Yorkshire was officially the biggest and best one yet with 2.6 million fans lining the route over the four days. No less than 900,000 roadside spectators witnessed a gripping conclusion on Sunday with Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing) wrapping up the overall victory after Stéphane Rossetto (Cofidis, Solutions Credits) had secured a sensational stage win.
Rossetto’s ride will go down in Yorkshire folklore after the Frenchman launched an audacious solo attack with 120km of the brutally tough ‘Yorkshire Terrier’ remaining, and the 31-year-old evaded a vastly reduced peloton to seal the biggest stage win of his career and top the best climber classification, sponsored by Virgin Trains in the process.
Not surprisingly, Rossetto was also awarded the grey most active rider jersey sponsored by Dimension Data.
Van Avermaet sprinted home 37 seconds behind Rossetto in second place to tie up the race leader’s blue jersey, sponsored by Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries, nine seconds ahead of Spaniard Eduard Prades Reverter (Euskadi Basque Country-Murias).
Last year’s race winner Serge Pauwels (Team Dimension Data) rounded out the podium, five seconds further adrift.
The bonus points Van Avermaet accrued on the line also saw him win the best sprinter classification.
Van Avermaet said: “I’m happy I could achieve the race win because it was certainly not easy today.
“The fans were amazing, and for the whole four days actually. I remember from the Tour de France, and when I last raced here in 2015, what it was like, and with this sunny weather even more fans came out. It was really special.
“The parcours was fantastic as well with a lot of variation over the four stages and this race definitely deserves its place on the calendar.
“I hope to come back and defend my title next year.”
Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive Sir Gary Verity said: “I’m so proud of the last four days. It takes such a lot of work to make this race happen.
“All the highways teams and local authorities across Yorkshire worked so hard to make sure everything was ready and we’re hugely grateful to the emergency services as well.
“This race wouldn’t be what it is without our great partners, and of course, I like to say a massive thank you to all the male and female riders who came and produced such a gripping event.
“Greg Van Avermaet was a more than worthy winner and that gutsy ride from Stéphane Rossetto will live long in the memory.
“Finally, I have to mention the crowds as well. Once again, they were unbelievable and it was like being back at the 2014 Tour de France.
“Every start and finish was absolutely rammed and there were so many high points along the route that I’ll need to take a few days to let it all sink in.”