CyclingUpToDate.com

Tour de Yorkshire "in the process of arranging enough financial support" to secure return in 2024

The Tour de Yorkshire was left held in 2019. After being cancelled the last three years, a comeback could be likely later this year with race organizers trying hard to secure funding.

“We are in the process of arranging enough financial support to ensure the event can be as big as before,” Robin Scott, the new owner of Welcome to Yorkshire, the travel agency that previously co-organized the stage race has revealed.

Tao Geoghegan Hart doubles up to take second Tour of the Alps stage win in as many days

Since Chris Lawless 's overall victory in 2019 ahead of Greg van Avermaet and Eddie Dunbar , the race has been in a state of limbo. Scott hopes though that through conversations with the UCI and British Cycling , the Tour de Yorkshire could return to the cycling calendar.

Scott hopes that the race's return will be confirmed by the summer of 2024 as to mark a decade since the Tour de France started in front of a raucous British crowd in the county of Yorkshire.

PREVIEW | Tour of the Alps 2023 stage 3 - Queen stage the ultimate test for Tao Geoghegan Hart

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Mon 15 Apr 2024

“I was going to say it's great to win for the second time but that might create some controversy" - Tom Pidcock reacts to thrilling Amstel Gold Race victory

Sun 14 Apr 2024

"We waited for Mathieu van der Poel to open. Even he was a bit tired today" - Mattias Skjelmose rues wrong tactics at Amstel Gold Race

tour of yorkshire cycling

The Tour de France is the toughest sporting event in the world – but you don’t have to be an elite cyclist to experience the exhilaration of its Yorkshire route.

In 2014, the Tour famously visited Yorkshire for two days. But we wouldn’t recommend you follow its route unquestioningly. Much of the course followed busy A-roads, closed specially for the occasion. Wide enough for high-speed racing and for the train of vehicles that follows the cyclists, they make for miserable riding at other times of year.

But Stage 1, through the Yorkshire Dales, also followed peaceful, narrow lanes through this delightful part of England. By piecing these together with a few linking roads, you can enjoy all the challenge of the Tour – without the traffic.

And that’s exactly what we’ve done here. We’ve taken the highlights of Stage 1, modified the route a little, ridden and mapped it. We think it’s a terrific route – and you can tell your friends you’ve climbed the same hills that Chris Froome and (before he fell off) Mark Cavendish tackled.

tour of yorkshire cycling

How many days?

Tour de France cyclists covered 120 miles in Stage 1 of the Tour. Our route is slightly longer, at 130 miles. Fit cyclists could do it all in two days, but we’d suggest taking three or four days, giving you a chance to enjoy the Dales at leisure. After all, there are some lovely pubs along the way.

If you don’t have time to do the full route, we’d suggest concentrating on the Dales from Grassington to Leyburn. This is the most scenic part of the Tour’s three-day visit, and a delightful ride in its own right.

How hard is it?

We’ll be honest: these are serious hills. But they’re no harder than popular bike routes like the C2C, and though steep, they’re few in number. Climbing Buttertubs or Whipperdale Bank will tax you, but they’re worth it for the scenic descent and long valley cruise on the other side.

If you’ve just bought your first bike, this probably isn’t the route to spin your tyres on. (Though we’d love you to prove us wrong.) For anyone who’s happy to cycle 30 miles in a day, and is prepared to tackle the odd hill, it’s eminently doable.

What sort of bike?

The route from Skipton through the Yorkshire Dales to Ripon is all on-road, so a road bike will be fine. From Leeds to Skipton, and from Ripon to Harrogate, we suggest you use canal towpaths and old railway paths as an alternative to the A-roads followed by the Tour cyclists. Though these will mostly be ok for road bikes, the towpath is undergoing an upgrade as you get towards Skipton; until that’s finished, those with skinny tyres might want to detour onto the roads instead.

A hybrid will cope with the full route, and you’ll appreciate the ‘granny gear’ if you have one. A mountain bike would cope with the surface, but you might find the hills a stretch!

Why 'Tour de Yorkshire'?

It’s the name we gave this route when we devised it. Since then, ASO (organisers of the Tour de France) have announced their own professional cycling event with the same name. It’s not the most original of names, so we can’t blame them. (But we had it first.)

Is it signposted?

The official route, as followed by the Tour de France cyclists, was signposted with permanent brown signs – though not with the fastidiousness of a National Cycle Network route. But since this will lead you onto very busy roads, we’d recommend it only for the hardened road-warrior.

Our alternative route isn’t signposted, but armed with a print-out from cycle.travel’s journey-planner, you shouldn’t find it difficult to follow. We’ve highlighted the key directions in bold, and also suggested a few possible detours in italics.

How busy are the roads?

In the Dales, most of the roads are narrow and fairly quiet, especially outside holiday season. We’ve therefore been able to follow the route closely, with a few tweaks to avoid A-roads. Between Aysgarth and Hawes, for example, we follow the lovely quiet road on the north side of the Ure valley, rather than the busier A-road on the south side.

That said, some traffic is unavoidable without going miles out of the way: from Skipton up to Grassington, for example, the B-road can be busy with holiday traffic. The good news is that the promise of the Tour has drawn hundreds of two-wheeled adventurers to these roads. As a result, local drivers know to look out for bikes. As long as you’re suitably lit up at night, you should be fine.

Outside the Dales, the official Tour route followed major A-roads which are unpleasant to cycle at any time. We’ve therefore taken a little more artistic licence here, following the Leeds & Liverpool Canal towpath and country lanes from Leeds to Skipton, and local cycle routes between Leyburn and Harrogate. Needless to say, the Tour peloton won’t be cycling down the canal towpath any time soon, though we’d like to see them try.

Getting there

How do i get there.

Leeds and Harrogate both have direct train services from London (run by LNER - you can book bike spaces online) and a wide range of local trains. You can also skip the first leg along the canal towpath, and go straight to the Dales by taking a train to Skipton – again, there are a few direct services from King’s Cross.

tour of yorkshire cycling

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tour of yorkshire cycling

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Tour of Yorkshire

  • Road Cycling
  • Fully Guided
  • Personalized

Image of a map showing the route of the tour

  • Introduction
  • Day 1 Welcome to Yorkshire!
  • Day 2 Across the Yorkshire Moors to the spa town of Harrogate
  • Day 3 Through Yorkshire Dales to the village of Austwick
  • Day 4 The Queen Stage: Ribblehead Viaduct and Buttertubs Pass
  • Day 5 Into the Lake District
  • Day 6 The Hard Knott Pass, Seascale & Coniston Water
  • Day 7 Departures

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  • ALEXANDER · October 5th, 2023 The route was frankly ridiculous, way to long ,the way I made it was by not doing gravel, but state roads,not what I... Show more

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tour of yorkshire cycling

Tour of Yorkshire

tour of yorkshire cycling

Ride coast-to-coast through the beautiful English countryside and discover the county that hosted the 2014 Tour de France Grand Départ and the 2019 world championships.

Start on the east coast of England in the picturesque village of Robin Hood’s Bay & a gentle spin to the fishing town of Whitby. Ride west from here acorss the Yorkshire Moors to Harrogate, the thiriving host town of the 2019 cycling world championships. From Harrogate ride into the stunning Yorkshire Dales, tackle the Buttertubs Pass, take on the brutal lane to Dent and marvel at the Ribblehead viaduct. Continue west to the Lake District, taste Kendal mint cake, climb the notorious Hard Knott pass & celebrate our coast to coast adventure in Seascale.

There will be craft beer in English pubs, afternoon tea in quintessential English tearooms, fish & chips, pub lunches (includes, pies, roast, Yorkhire puddings), the best tea in the world on tap and a whole lot of incredible riding.

7 days / 6 nights

UK & Ireland

TOUR highlights

Buttertubs Pass

The Yorkshire Dales

The Lake District

Ribblehead Viaduct

IS THIS TOUR FOR ME?

Rated 3 out of 4 our Advanced tours are designed for people who ride regularly and want back to back challenging days on the bike. Riders should be confident riding in a small group, comfortable on extended climbs (at your own pace) and have good bike handling skills on corners and descents. E-bikes are available on all of our tours.

Welcome to Yorkshire!

tour of yorkshire cycling

Welcome tea & sandwiches, Evening meal at the hotel

tour of yorkshire cycling

Victoria Hotel

tour of yorkshire cycling

Bike set up & warm-up loop ride to Whitby, 25 km, 422 m

Across the Yorkshire Moors to the spa town of Harrogate

Breakfast, picnic lunch en route, Evening meal in the town of Harrogate

Arden House

Harrogate, 127 km, 1,647 m

Through the Yorkshire Dales to the village of Austwick

Breakfast, soup and a sandwich at a traditional English tearoom, evening meal at The Traddock

The Traddock

Harrogate to Austwick, 75.2 km, 1,116 m

The Queen Stage: Ribblehead Viaduct and Buttertubs Pass

Breakfast, picnic lunch at Aysgarth Falls, free evening

Austwick to Buttertubs Pass, 121.6 km, 2,111 m

Into the Lake District

Breakfast, lunch at a Café in Kendal, evening meal at the Drunken Duck

The Drunken Duck

Austwick to the Lake District, 96.3 km, 1,800 m

The Hard Knott Pass, Seascale & Coniston Water

Breakfast, picnic lunch by the sea, evening meal on the banks of Lake Windemere

Loop ride to the west coast, 89 km, 1,885 m

tour of yorkshire cycling

THE TOUR IN DETAIL

Ride support, full support.

Enjoy small group sizes and professional, personal support all week from your guides & support vehicle.

We work with an industry leading guide to guest ratio – expect up to 4 guests per guide on the trip with guides leading the way on the road and a support vehicle close by at all times.

The ride support vehicle is stocked with natural ride nutrition, electrolytes and water, as well as a full set of tools to resolve any mechanicals. On selected days the support crew will serve a delicious picnic lunch in a scenic location en route. Enjoy local foods chosen to keep you feeling energized and healthy.

Eat Sleep Cycle guides are experienced riders from all walks of life united by a love of cycling who’ll help to keep the group safe, motivated and savouring the trip of a lifetime.

All guests will receive access to our digital Road Book and routes, giving everyone the flexibility to ride at their own pace.

Located at picturesque Robin Hood’s Bay near Whitby on the North Yorkshire Heritage Coast.

tour of yorkshire cycling

Robin Hood's Bay

victoriarhb.com

An idyllic bed & breakfast located in the centre of the lively town of Harrogate

tour of yorkshire cycling

ardenhousehotel.co.uk

The Traddock is a small family run country house hotel, dedicated to offering guests the best the Yorkshire Dales have to offer – top quality produce and cooking, warm welcoming hospitality and a relaxing and homely place to rest and recharge

tour of yorkshire cycling

thetraddock.co.uk

Stay in a wonderful country pub in Barnsgate, perfectly located for riding in the stunning Lake District.

tour of yorkshire cycling

drunkenduckinn.co.uk

Louise is a founding partner and leads the development of our cycling tours & experiences. After graduating from Kings College London with an MA in Theatre & Performance, Louise worked in the sustainability department at the London School of Economics before landing her dream job at Global Action Plan, a charity focused on environmental behaviour change. A love of cycling led to a life change and move to Girona, where Eat Sleep Cycle was born!

tour of yorkshire cycling

LOGISTICS AND TRANSPORTATION

tour of yorkshire cycling

HOW TO GET HERE

Arrive to Leeds Airport or London Airports, travel by train to York

tour of yorkshire cycling

MEETING POINT

York Train Station

tour of yorkshire cycling

Lancaster Train Station (book a train after 12 noon)

WHAT THE TOUR INCLUDES

tour of yorkshire cycling

Fully supported

tour of yorkshire cycling

ACCOMMODATION

6 nights, Boutique Hotel Accommodations

tour of yorkshire cycling

Full board (Breakfast, lunch every day, 5 evening meals)

tour of yorkshire cycling

Group transfers included

tour of yorkshire cycling

BIKE RENTAL

Not included - available from local partners on request

EAT SLEEP CYCLE LOCATION

Esc uk & ireland.

Do not underestimate the beauty of the British and Irish countryside, rich in rolling green hills, dramatic coastlines and quiet back roads that stretch as far as the eye can see. Discover some of the British Isles most stunning scenery and most enjoyable terrain on two wheels, including the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and Robin’s Hood Bay, steeped in beauty and legend. Choose spring, summer and autumn tours for the best riding conditions in the UK and Ireland.

RESERVATION & PAYMENT

A deposit of €500 will secure your place on the tour.

50% is due 6 months before the departure of the tour.

The final balance is due 2 months before the tour departure.

24 June 2024

30 June 2024

1 July 2024

7 July 2024

DOUBTS? CONTACT US

What happens if i need to cancel the trip.

We have a flexible cancelation policy – please take a look at our cancellation policy at the time of booking. If you have any doubts please reach out and we’re happy to help.

Is the tour the right level for me?

We rate our tours from Level 1 (Leisure) to Level 4 (Epic). Each tour contains a description of the level, expected daily ride time, distance and elevation. If you have any doubts we’re more that happy to speak to you on the phone and help to find you the perfect trip!

What about bikes? Can I hire one or should I bring my own?

We recommend that you hire a bike for your tour and will work with you after you book to help you to choose the best size and model for your ride style. If you prefer to bring your bike, it’s no problem. Please be aware that on some of our epic trips we charge a supplement to transport your bike box to our finishing location. If you have any doubts, please ask!

Is insurance included?

Insurance is not included in our tour packages. We highly recommend contracting travel insurance at the time of reservation with a company from where you are from.

Health insurance which covers you for illness or injury whilst cycling in your chosen destination is mandatory, we’ll ask you for details of your insurance providor before you travel.

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Epic Road Rides

Cycling Yorkshire Dales: your ultimate guide

tour of yorkshire cycling

Road cycling in Yorkshire is renowned for its ferocious gradients, often inclement weather and wild scenery. It has been hitting the headlines of the cycling press in recent years – and has a growing reputation as one of the best areas of the country to ride a road bike.

Yorkshire’s cycling revolution has a lot to do with the iconic events that it hosts. It was catapulted into the spotlight when it hosted the Grand Départ for the Tour de France in 2014 and the UCI World Road Race Championships 2019. The annual Etape du Dales and Tour of Yorkshire are two of the most eagerly anticipated events on the UK cycling calendar.

Want to cycle the Dales?

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to plan an unforgettable Yorkshire cycling holiday: detailed information on the best road rides plus where to stay, when to visit and where to rent a bike in the Yorkshire Dales.

Read on and plan your next cycling adventure.

This article includes details of Stolen Goat kit. As you know, we’re big fans. We may also include details of other products and/or services that we have used ourselves or which we would consider.  If you click on a link and buy something or make a booking, we may earn a commission. Please read our disclosure policy for further information.

Cycling Yorkshire: which region to visit?

Yorkshire is a large county that’s blessed with loads of fantastic cycling regions, from the Dales, Nidderdale and North York Moors in North Yorkshire to the Yorkshire Wolds in the east, the Strines in South Yorkshire and Calderdale in West Yorkshire.

Most of the region’s most famous climbs are found in North Yorkshire, and are particularly within the Yorkshire Dales. This area focuses on the Yorkshire Dales in North Yorkshire.

What’s so special about cycling the Yorkshire Dales?

In a county of beautiful scenery, the Yorkshire Dales still manages to stand out. It’s a National Park and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – and the reason for these designations is the wild countryside that looks unlike any other part of the UK.

This is an area of craggy limestone cliffs and untouched moorland that vividly contrasts with the lush green valley bottoms with their dry stone walls, picturesque stone villages and barns.

If you like your roads quiet, you’re also in for a treat. Main roads around the edges of the Dales mean that the serious traffic bypasses the roads of the Dales – traffic you’ll encounter is mostly locals going about their day to day business between the scattered hamlets and villages or, in the more popular hotspots like Malham, tourist traffic.

Descent of Buttertubs Pass to Thwaite

Should you cycle the Yorkshire Dales?

If you like smooth roads, gradual gradients and reliable sunshine, don’t book a cycling holiday in the Yorkshire Dales. You’re unlikely to find any of those things here.

Winter is long in the Dales, and even in the summer months, changeable weather systems mean you’re as likely to get a week of wind and rain as a week of sunshine. The winding country passes rear up like angry beasts – up and over was the motto of road builders in this part of the world; no subtle, snaking switchbacks here. In a similar fashion, the surfaces of these ancient roads take a beating during the cold, snowy months of January through to March and resurfacing is not something that’s done regularly.

A Yorkshire cycling trip is perfect for the sort of rider that goes along with the weather, who loves to square up to a bit of adversity and loves a lung-busting gradient.

Still reading?!

Because if this is sounding like your kind of riding, you’ll love cycling in the Yorkshire Dales. It’s got a dark, raw, brooding beauty. When the rain is streaking down and the wind is blowing a gale, that’s when you see the real Yorkshire Dales.

Yet there is a softer side too. If you’re into your birdlife, you’ll be keen to spot the increasing number of buzzards and red kites in the area – and in spring and summer curlews and lapwings make their bests on the high pastures and moors. Owls are common and highland cattle, roe deer and red squirrels call this home. Ride through the green valleys of Wharfdale or Littondale on a spring morning, when the sun is bright and the hay meadows are ripe with a rainbow of wild flowers and we challenge you not to fall in love with this iconic corner of the world.

The Dales are also brim full of some of the UK’s most renowned climbs: Buttertubs Pass , Kidstones Pass ,  Fleet Moss , Grinton Moor , Park Rash  and Tan Hill to name a few.  Our Yorkshire cycle routes take in these and many more stunning climbs. Ride these and you’ll really have something to chat about when exchanging war stories on your next club ride.

We liked it so much, we included it in our list of the best places to cycle in the UK .

Yorkshire cycle routes

The Yorkshire Dales is a 2,178 km² (841 sq miles) protected space. One of the best things about riding here is that there are a myriad of roads you could choose to ride: the Dales are criss-crossed by a dense network of narrow twisting roads. For an area that gets little traffic, this initially comes as a surprise. But consider that the Dales have been continuously occupied by humans for the last 10,000 years and that the roads we see today are often Roman or upgraded cart tracks and drovers roads, and it becomes more understandable. The happy result is a cyclist’s paradise of roads that will make you very happy. Here’s our pick of the best.

Cycling Buttertubs Pass, Yorkshire Dales

Cycling climbs of Yorkshire

Not all climbs are created equal. Whether due to racing pedigree or sheer natural beauty, some climbs are more famous than others. These are the climbs we’d suggest you don’t miss:

Note: we don’t (yet) have stand-alone write ups on Park Rash, Tan Hill or Kidstones Pass (but watch this space). In the meantime, you can find our thoughts on those in the following guides:

  • Park Rash:  Park Rash and Fleet Moss loop
  • Tan Hill:  Etape du Dales
  • Kidstones Pass:  Kidstones Pass, Buttertubs Pass and Greets Moss loop

Yorkshire sportives and cycling events

Some of the most famous Yokrshire cycling events are:

Tour de Yorkshire: this is an annual UCI road race with 2.HC status. The men’s race takes place over four days in early May each year. The women’s race is held over two days, and for the first time in 2019 was held on a Friday and Saturday to allow more people to view it. The Tour of Yorkshire route (and associated route of the Tour de Yorkshire sportive) changes each year. If you want to ride it, check out the route for the current year and create a GPX route to follow – we’d suggest trying ridewithgps.com.

C2C route (Coast to Coast): The classic route takes riders 136 miles from Workington/Whitehaven to Tynemouth/Sunderland – through Cumrbia to Tyneside (so not Yorkshire). Cycling UK estimate that 12-15,000 cyclists do it every year. However, if you’re keen to do a coast to coast route but want to stay mainly in Yorkshire, you should look at the W2W Walney to Wear and Whitby that takes you 152/179 miles (depending which route you take) via Tan Hill in the Dales.

Etape du Dales: the Etape du Dales route showcases some of the very best roads Yorkshire has to offer. It’s seriously hard and not to be underestimated. The Etape du Dales is one of the UK’s very best sportives and, if you fancy testing yourself on some of Yorkshire’s hardest roads, this is a good way to do it. It’s organised by the Dave Rayner Fund and the proceeds go to supporting young professional cyclists that dream of making it to pro.

Accommodation: places to stay in Yorkshire Dales (for cyclists)

Remember to double-check accommodation bike storage arrangements (and any other services you need) before booking as policies often change.

Staying in one of the villages in the centre of the Dales makes sense if you want to cover off a few routes over a Yorkshire Dales cycling weekend.

Which village to pick? Well, Grassington or Settle are good choices if you want somewhere easily accessible from the south. To  the  east, Leyburn is a vibrant market town, with four pubs, restaurants, take aways, cafes and grocery shops. Hawes provides a base in  the  heart of  the  Dales, while Kirkby Stephen opens up  the  northern and western areas.

Or you could go for a camper van holiday !

Our choice: Simonstone Hall

We stayed at the beautiful Simonstone Hall Hotel, situated in Simonstone just outside of Hawes. This manor house hotel was built in the 18th century and retains many of the original features. The external façade is very impressive, the views over the Dales are magnificent and it is well located.

View from Simosntone Hall, Hawes

What we love

The staff were excellent and couldn’t have been more helpful.

The location is beautiful, with far-reaching views across green pastures towards the fells of Upper Wensleydale. While it feels remote, it’s also only a five minute drive to the bustling town of Hawes.

The food and service were excellent. There’s a restaurant serving lunch and evening meals; it’s got a reputation for offering some of the best food in the area, with dishes that give a contemporary tweak to local produce.

Breakfast was self-service cereals and juices, followed by a table service menu for ordering your cooked breakfast.  Options included a full English Breakast as well as staples like Eggs Benedict, Eggs Royale and good old porridge.

Thoughtful touches like White Company toiletries add to the experience.

The nearby Hardraw Falls is a very popular tourist attraction as it is the home of the largest single drop waterfall within the country. It is accessed for a fee of £2.50 per person payable at the Green Dragon Inn situated in the hamlet of Hardraw.

Roll top bath at Simonstone Hall Yorkshire

Things to know

There are no bike storage facilities. The hotel offered to find somewhere to keep our bikes but we opted to keep them in the car.

The hotel has gained a reputation in the past as the location chosen by Kate Winslet for her honeymoon and via the fact that this was the location that the Top Gear presenter, Jeremy Clarkson ended his BBC career by getting involved in a very well publicised fracas with his producer (there is a brass plaque in the hotel bar marking the spot where the altercation took place).

Since then, a new team has taken over and Simonstone is gaining a reputation for all the right reasons. It also had a major makeover in 2021.

Both children and dogs are welcome. The hotel is a very popular base for ramblers and dog walkers.

More information

Simonstone Hall Hotel, Hawes, North Yorkshire

Telephone: 01969 667 255

Email: [email protected]

Other accommodation choices

The Yorkshire Dales are full of accommodation that would suit cyclists. From YHAs to pubs with rooms to country house hotels. The great thing about cycling in this part of the world is that most places are used to guests here to pursue outdoor activities, so most should be accommodating to your cycling needs. Just make sure you check before booking.

Travelling with kids

One particular problem we came across, however, was what to do when trying to combine a cycling holiday to the Dales with a holiday with our young children. Young children are often not overly keen/able to take part in the sort of outdoor activities the Dales are famous for. Our solution was Centre Parcs. The upside of this is the vast array of on site activities. The downside is that it’s in Penrith…

Center Parcs, Whinfell Forest

Center Parcs Whinfell Forest Whinfell Forest, Penrith CA10 2DW // 01768 893 009 //  Website

The closest Center Parcs to the Yorkshire Dales is in Whinfell Forest, near Penrith. It’s about 30 minutes drive to Kirby Stephen, on the northern edge of the Dales and 1 hour’s drive to Hawes.

  • If you want to ride in the Dales and have young kids in tow, Center Parcs offers fantastic entertainment for them. In rural areas like the Dales, it can be difficult to find accommodation that offers enough kid friendly activities at or near the hotel to keep kids entertained. Center Parcs fixes that by offering hundreds of on-site activities, including the famous sub-tropical swimming pool complex. 
  • Center Parcs’ self-catering houses are excellent for multi-generational holidays; why not bring the grandparents to look after the children while you escape on your bike! 
  • The beauty of Center Parcs is that in between changeover days, there are no cars on site. This makes woodland rides with the family a very safe and pleasant experience.
  • You can hire bikes for the family on site, but it’s more cost-effective to bring your own. Don’t forget locks too, as you’ll want to leave your bikes at various points around the site.

Centre Parcs, Whinfell forest, accommodation for cyclists Yorkshire Dales

Road cycle hire Yorkshire Dales

Prices, services and bike brands often change. Please let us know if anything is incorrect.

When to go: weather in Yorkshire Dales

The problem with trying to pick the best time to go cycling in the Dales is that, even more so than other destinations, the weather often doesn’t stick to the climate records and statistics. So even if you pick what appears to be the best time on paper, more likely than not, you won’t get that weather.

As with most UK destinations, the most cyclist-friendly time to visit would be May to September. Then average temperature highs are 20°C+ and rainfall is lower than at other times of year. That said, we visited at the end of May and had a week of rain…and this year there have been flash floods in July. It’s also worth bearing in mind that statistically, this region gets rain on nearly half the days of the year.

From October to April, you’re increasingly likely to hit adverse conditions and frost and snow is a frequent visitor between December and March. The Dales are best avoided on two wheels during these months.

Visit the Dales with an open mindset, prepared for bad weather and grateful if you see sunshine – that way you won’t be disappointed!

Credit: weather statistics from www.yorkshiredales-stay.co.uk/weather 

We’ve enjoyed both Simon Warren’s Cycling Climbs of Yorkshire book and Cicerone’s Cycling in the Yorkshire Dales.

Cycling Climbs of Yorkshire: if you’re familiar with Warren’s books you’ll know the format – half a (small) page of text with some graphics and photos to form a double page spread. The descriptions are concise and give a sense of the climb and what to expect.

Cicerone’s book provides 24 good quality loops, complete with maps and turn by turn descriptions. The author is clearly very experienced and has been riding the Dales for many years. We found some of the opinions a bit old school, but overall it’s a useful book.

If you’re looking for a printed Yorkshire Dales cycle route map, we’ve come across Harvey’s Yorkshire Dales cycle way map that shows this route on one map and includes a route profile.

Otherwise, your best bet is an Ordnance Survey map. The 1:50,000 OS98 Wensleydale and Upper Wharfdale covers most of the region.

Good to know

Read our Tips for cycling the Yorkshire Dales before you go.

Public transport is not ideal within the Yorkshire Dales. In reality, the options are walk, cycle or drive. So, we’d suggest having a car. This will also allow you to explore further afield, and ensures that even if you stay in one area you can always drive a short distance to start another loop ride elsewhere.

Pub in Yorkshire Dales with bikes on outside

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Want more? Don’t miss our guides to the best Yorkshire cycling routes and other articles on the Dales (see below).

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  • Get more inspiration on the best places to cycle in summer.
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Clare Dewey

Clare Dewey is a cyclist with a passion for travel. She set up epicroadrides.com in 2018 to help make it easy for cyclists to explore the world by bike. Today her mission is still inspiring cyclists to discover new places on two wheels – and doing what she can to make sure they have the best possible time while they’re there. Clare has visited 50+ destinations around the world, many of them by bike.

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Yorkshire Dales Cycleway with UK Bike Tours (c)Tejvan Pettinger

The terrain is slightly hilly. You will encounter a short incline from time to time or maybe one or two heavy stages. With an e-bike and some cycling experience you should easily be able to handle this level. Daily distances span 50-75 km.

History

Bike Tour: Yorkshire Dales Cycleway - 9 days

With fairly short distances, you maybe in the saddle only three or four hours, the Yorkshire Dales Cycleway is a fantastic way to discover the beauty of the iconic national park in northern England. Visit the traditional villages, castles & churches and lock up your bikes and walk to features such as waterfalls, rivers or museums. En-route, you will find many eateries to keep you fueled, limestone pavements, the home of Wensleydale Cheese, as well as plenty of friendly pubs & tearooms. 

The iconic Yorkshire Dales National Park has extraordinary natural beauty. The landscape has over thousands of years been fashioned into a range of shallow and deep dales (valleys), gorges, rocky pavements, waterfalls and gushing rivers, caves and woodland glades. Much later, our forefathers created farms and fields lined with miles of dry‐stone walls, the now ribbed ruins of abbeys and medieval castles. Pastures glowing with multi‐ shades of green sit below wilder lands of heather and sedge, home of red grouse and deer. 

Why do the Yorkshire Dales Cycleway with us:

  • Same start and end point - possibility to park your car or organise roundtrip transportation
  • Daily luggage transfers - pedal light and completely focus on enjoying your holiday in England
  • Premium 2-4 star accommodation - selected based on comfort, location & character
  • Cycle at your own pace, stop when you want
  • Option to customise this Yorkshire Dales Cycleway tour to suit your private party
  • 35+ years of experience, with cycling friends in every corner of Britain
  • Fast booking confirmation
  • Detailed route notes, maps & GPS directions set up by our own people that live local
  • Option to hire an (e)bike

Below, learn more about cycling in the Yorkshire Dales or contact our team to discuss your wishes. 

Yorkshire Dales Cycleway Map | UK Bike Tours

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Make your own way to Skipton. Picture perfect and without a stone out of place, the literal meaning of the name is sheep-town. The Norman castle here dates back to 1090 and was being strengthened in the 13th century against the Scots. It is now one of the most complete and best preserved medieval castles in England and worth a visit if you have time. Skipton has one of the oldest mills in North Yorkshire (1310), High Corn Mill, powered by the waters of Eller Beck.

From medieval times Skipton became a prosperous market town, trading sheep and woollen goods. In the 19th century it became a small mill town connected to the major cities by the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. In 2016 it was the second time that Skipton was voted the best place to live in England in a poll by the Sunday Times. Accommodation : Situated just a 5-minute stroll along the canal path to the centre of Skipton town, this small restaurant hotel offers quiet, comfortable and pleasant bright rooms with spaces to relax.

Introducing the moors, hills, rivers and dales of Yorkshire, your cycle ride gets underway from Skipton. The ride starts through the lovely village of Embsay and then with a long hillclimb up to 300m /984 feet along Barden Road giving superb views across Embsay Moor and as far as Ilkley Moor. You then descend to the babbling beauty of the River Wharfe and Wharfedale town. You pass charming Appletreewick, essentially a medieval village with gorgeous stone cottages reflecting the limestone nature of the surrounding geology. Indeed some of the buildings seem to have grown out of the ground having been there since the 12th century. Perhaps pause at the pub, the beautiful ivy covered Craven Arms with a long trestle table terrace. Then, continue cycling along the river as it flows through Burnsall, a dramatic village with an imposing stone bridge, as well as a Grammar School built in 1601. Have a riverside break here before ascending Elberton Hill, your last major climb of the day before a gentle downhill into the village of Airton. Join the River Aire in Upper Airedale and continue up through Kirkby Malham to reach the popular village of Malham.

Malham is a pretty place, surrounded by dry-stone walls and a stream running right through the middle of the village. It has been a settlement for at least a thousand years and was once a place of mills and mines. Mind the ducks as you walk to the pub. Either tonight or tomorrow (whenever the weather is best), walk up the valley to the beautiful and dramatic limestone amphitheater of Malham Cove. If you can manage the footpath above it, you will end up on the rocky pavement (a setting in Harry Potter) with great views back down the valley. Accommodation : Your small hotel is set in a quiet spot in the village. Parts of the building date back to the 1660s and there is a small bar and drying room.

A cycle ride deep into the Yorkshire Dales is scheduled for today. Prepare for about 15km (9.3 miles) of wild and remote riding before you reach the first village! Steeply ascend Malham Rakes to the rippling waters of the glacial Malham Tarn. You now have some quiet hilly moorland riding before descending into Stainforth - the ancient Stony Ford once a colliery town on the river Ribble. Following the river, your bike ride passes the old milling village of Langcliffe before you arrive in Settle.

The market place is surrounded by a variety of glorious buildings, most notably the Shambles (1675) and the Town Hall (1832) now housing a great selection of shops, galleries and places to eat. The Victoria Hall opened as a music hall in 1853 and still has regular shows making it the oldest continuously-operating music hall in the UK. If you are a railway enthusiast, visit Settle Station with its working signal box and water tower. The iconic Settle-Carlisle Railway is a heritage treasure trove. Ascent 457m /1,500 ft, descent 495m /1,625 ft. Accommodation : The guesthouse has six delightfully individual en-suite rooms, which blend period features with contemporary decor.

A day of riding, passing limestone caves and waterfalls and a leg-testing amount of elevation gain! The cycle route follows gentle hills through peaceful countryside to the village of Clapham. You may be ready for a coffee before you continue riding into Ingleton, a pretty village which has a beautiful gorge and waterfall walk. To do this just lock up your bike and spend a couple of hours exploring. From here the route heads up into the glacially formed Kingsdale Valley. On your right, you have Yorkshire's highest peak of Whernside and there are wide and wild views which you can contemplate on the long ascents. At last you roll down into Dentdale and Dent village hidden between the Howgill Fells and Pennines.

Dent has its own little brewery and a couple of pubs and teashops. There are delightful cobbled streets and a fountain of pink granite in the village centre, commemorating Dent’s links with Adam Sedgwick (1785-1873), one of the greatest field geologists of his time. Dent is also famous for its ‘manic’ knitters. In the 18th century, both men and women knitted, often while walking to the fields to work. Their output of hand-knitted gloves and socks was enormous, providing an important supplementary income. The large 12th century St. Andrews Church is also worth a visit. Accommodation : Snug rooms above the village store. All rooms are finished to a high standard with new fixtures and fittings.

The day starts with a steep climb through Dentdale following the river Dee. Enjoy great views from your saddle over rolling fells and the Arten Gill Viaduct. You reach the high point of the day at 435m / 1,427 feet from where the route becomes much easier as you roll into Hawes. England’s highest market town (259m /850 feet), in 1699 Hawes was granted a charter to hold markets by King William III. In 1887 an auction market was established for cattle sales and sheep fairs and soon after this cheese fairs also became a regular event. Cycle to Gayle, next to Hawes, and visit The Wensleydale Creamery. They have been making this kind of cheese since around 1150, involving traditional recipes following those first created by French monks. Nowadays there are many different varieties of the eponymous Wensleydale which you can try. There is also a traditional rope factory where you can become more entwined in the history of the area. After this break, you cross over the river Ure and follow a quiet road which runs parallel to it. A final relaxing stretch takes you cycling through Bainbridge, a village with extensive greens and cascading river, to finally arrive in Aysgarth. You may have time to visit the National Trust Centre and visit the famous stepped Aysgarth Falls - a location in a number of films. Accommodation : Family-run early Victorian guesthouse offering comfortable light rooms with panoramic views over Wensleydale.

One big clockwise loop today featuring both Wensleydale and Swaledale. Today there are two big hills to take on with your bike. The first one is from Askrigg to Cross Top (495m / 1,624 feet) with up to a 15% gradient at times. Once over this, there is a gorgeous descent down into the valley of the river Swale. The old lead mining village of Gunnerside is a potential stop for a coffee and cake although it is slightly off the route. You continue cycling along the river until Grinton with a popular pub and historic church that is known as the ‘Cathedral of the Dales.’ A worthwhile short detour is the interesting village of Reeth, with it’s nice large green, shops and also the nearby Dales Bike Centre – with tasty food and drinks as well as equipment if you need stocking up. Then comes your next steep climb back up to 450m /1,476 feet to cross Grinton Moor. Now it's down into Redmire - another village used in the James Herriot series. Near Redmire is Castle Bolton; built from 1378 and left largely intact from the Civil War in the 1640s. You can visit old kitchens, dungeon, nursery, armoury, great chamber and Mary Queen of Scots’ bedroom - she was imprisoned here for a while on the way to Fotheringay Castle. About one third of the rooms are fully intact and the rest of the castle is almost completely accessible giving you great insight into the castle's turbulent past. Complete the loop back to Aysgarth along more lovely Wensleydale lanes. Ascent 810m /2,657 ft, Descent 800m / 2,625 ft. Accommodation : A friendly family-run pub in Redmire, there are 5 beautifully appointed bedrooms offering all you need for a perfect night's sleep. All rooms have TV, tea/coffee making facilities and some feature views over picturesque Wensleydale.

Today is another hilly bike ride ride through postcard perfect landscapes and villages. The first place you cycle to is the historic village called Wensley, the place name for the Dale. Wensley comes from the Norse god Woden. This was a plague village in the 1560s, and took a long time to recover. It is still home to a Grade I listed 13th century Holy Trinity Church, Wensley Mill, and there are hidden waterfalls. After a look round, cross over the River Ure and climb along Gale Bank, which has beautiful woodlands and dry-stone lined roads. You cycle through glorious Coverdale now following the river Cover as it carves through the landscape threading its way through some tiny villages. Finally you ascend the Park Rash climb which averages 11% and climbs 230 metres. Be careful on the descent into Kettlewell, a gorgeous village by the River Wharfe with quaint tea shops and limestone terraces. Kettlewell, meaning bubbling spring, is a charming little place. Destroyed by a flood in the 1680s, much of the village reflects the success of lead mining and smelting here from the 1800s. Tea shops and a couple of pubs will welcome you through their doors. Accommodation : A traditional pub with newly renovated and individually styled rooms. They make the most of the enviable Yorkshire Dales views, whether it be the pretty village church or the dramatic surrounding hills. Rooms are en-suite and have flat screen TV and tea & coffee making facilities with a complimentary selection of homemade Yorkshire biscuits.

Your last stage of this Yorkshire cycling holiday, despite a bit of climbing, is a much easier day. You continue with the river along Wharfedale, with its share of waterfalls and limestone caves. Cycle via Conistone to Grassington, taking in Conistone's 11th century church and limestone hillock called the Pie and passing by Grass Wood Nature Reserve brimming with limestone scars and thick woodland. Grassington found wealth from lead mining and local quarry workings. The Old Hall here is reputedly the oldest house in Yorkshire. The village is an excellent place to stop for lunch with a range of tea rooms and cafes. Next, cross over the river at Linton Falls and wind your way cycling through the countryside, passing more villages and perhaps a final fantastic break-spot at Bolton Abbey. Founded in 1154 by the Augustinian order on the banks of the River Wharfe, the nave of the abbey church was in use as a parish church from about 1170 onwards. It survived the Dissolution of the Monasteries, which closed this one in January 1540. There is a final hill to Halton East, before you reach Embsay and then cycle back to the starting point in Skipton. Accommodation : As per your arrival day.

There is a variety of accommodation along the Yorkshire Dales Cycleway route ranging from bed & breakfasts, lodges, pubs and small hotels. They are run by cycling-friendly hosts offering en-suite or private facility rooms with a tasty breakfast to get you ready for the day ahead. Further facilities such as washing and drying facilities and packed lunches are available in some accommodations, you will be advised on your listing of what is available. 

If you decide not bring your own, you can rent a bicycle through us. You can choose from a range of bicycles suitable for your route. As well as providing you with the different options available, our team can organise the rental for you. Just contact us for details .

Once all confirmed, you will find your rental bikes waiting for you at your first hotel or at an alternative meeting point. When your bike is handed over to you, you'll also be provided with items such as the keys, chain lock, helmet and spare inner tube. 

tour of yorkshire cycling

Minimum 1 person (supplement applies)

tour of yorkshire cycling

The Yorkshire Dales Cycleway follows a circuit of normally quiet lanes that are ideal for cycling. Each stage is suitable for most levels of riders, however riding in Yorkshire is hilly and there are some long steep ascents where you may want to walk your bike. You will climb approx 4000 metres / 13,100 feet in total, with up to 800m / 2,600 feet elevation gain in one day. 

tour of yorkshire cycling

8 nights included on a twin share basis with ensuite facilities where available

tour of yorkshire cycling

Hotels, inns, guesthouses, and B&Bs

tour of yorkshire cycling

8 breakfasts included

The overnight accommodations are on a bed & breakfast basis, you will have a selection of cold and hot options each morning to choose from, including full English breakfast. 

Packed lunches can be booked and paid for on arrival at your accommodation. They offer a good selection of sandwiches, snacks and drink for you to then take with you on your bike ride. On most sections of the Yorkshire Dales Cycleway you will also pass a café and/or shop. 

For evening meals you will have a variety of lovely pubs and restaurants to choose from, or your accommodation can provide a tasty meal. 

tour of yorkshire cycling

Daily departures between late March and mid-October

tour of yorkshire cycling

Information pack including route notes & maps (1 pack per room booked)

tour of yorkshire cycling

Bike hire not included; approx. £280 or e-bikes £340

tour of yorkshire cycling

Emergency hotline

tour of yorkshire cycling

One piece of luggage per person transferred between accommodations, not exceeding 20kg

tour of yorkshire cycling

  • Dinner, lunch and drinks
  • Bike hire (see above for rentalbike information)
  • Any entrance fees
  • Travel insurance
  • Travel to the start and from the end point of the trip
  • Personal expenses such as laundry and phone calls
  • Unscheduled transfers required during the cycling trip

Contact us in advance to arrange for your parking.

tour of yorkshire cycling

The nearest Airport is Leeds/Bradford, approximately 20 miles away. It is possible to get to Skipton by bus or taxi from here.

Manchester Airport is approx. 2.5hrs away by train to/from Skipton. 

tour of yorkshire cycling

From London King's Cross there are up to two trains an hour to Skipton with a change at Leeds. It takes 3 to 3.45 hours.

From Manchester Airport there are also up to two trains an hour to Skipton, changing at Leeds. It takes around 2.30 hours.

Trains also run from Scotland, Glasgow and Edinburgh via Carlisle and sometimes Leeds taking 3.15hrs to 5.45hrs.

See nationalrail.co.uk for timetables and planning. We advise to book tickets and reserve a seat (and your bike) in advance. Tickets are usually cheaper if bought in advance. 

tour of yorkshire cycling

Hull is only 60miles (100km) away and it takes approximately 90 minutes for a taxi to drive to/from Skipton. Daily services run between Hull - Rotterdam (NL) and Hull - Zeebrugge (BE).  

Liverpool has ferry connections with Belfast (NI) and Dublin (IE) and it takes approximately 2 hours for a taxi to drive to/from Skipton. 

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Exclusive: Men’s Tour of Britain stages cut to seek parity for women’s race

British Cycling aim to increase women’s Tour of Britain to six stages in 2025 in order to create full parity between the two events

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Carlos Rodriguez and Stephen Williams

The men’s Tour of Britain will be cut to six stages in 2024 in order to lay the foundations for full parity with its women’s equivalent in the years ahead, Cycling Weekly has learned.

It follows on from the national governing body announcing it will organise both races in house under its new major events arm . 

In a statement shared with Cycling Weekly on Wednesday, British Cycling CEO Jon Dutton confirmed the details of the plan and explained that talks were scheduled with the UCI in order to gain permission to scale back the ProTour event. 

"We’ve taken the decision to run the 2024 edition of the Tour of Britain Men over six days rather than the current eight, and we intend to seek permission from the UCI to extend the Tour of Britain Women to six days from 2025," he said. 

"This would bring full parity to the events after our decision to align the event names this year – something which is fundamental to our vision for major cycling events in Britain."

Cycling Weekly understands that full parity includes the overall length of the race as well as future prize money at this stage. 

British Cycling has contacted various men’s teams to gather opinion on the potential reduction of race days. Dutton explained that there was support for the decision for a variety of reasons. 

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"From discussions with a number of men’s teams over recent weeks there is strong support for the decision, and a feeling that the reduction in the number of stages will provide more compelling and animated racing for riders at the roadside to enjoy," he explained. 

Cycling Weekly revealed last month that the shortened Tour of Britain Women is set to start in Wales in June . 

Dutton said that full route details regarding the women's race would be made public within the next fortnight. 

He said: "Our host towns and cities for the Tour of Britain Women will be announced within the next two weeks, and we are also now very close to finalising our hosts for the Tour of Britain Men. 

"Our team has worked around the clock to safeguard the future of the races in an incredibly short timeframe, and we’re also hugely thankful for the commitment of those who have stepped forward to support us this year and those that have pledged their support for 2025 and beyond.

"While 2024 was always going to be about protecting the immediate future of the races, we remain hugely excited by the opportunities to modernise and grow the events in the years ahead." 

British Cycling took over the organisation of both events after the collapse of the former promoter, SweetSpot . After being beset by financial difficulty, the firm entered liquidation in January . 

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Tom joined Cycling Weekly in early 2022 and his news stories, rider interviews and features appear both online and in the magazine. 

He has reported from some of professional cycling's biggest races and events including the Tour de France and the recent Glasgow World Championships. He has also covered races elsewhere across the world and interviewed some of the sport's top riders including Tom Pidcock, Wout van Aert, Primož Roglič and Lizzie Deignan. 

When not writing news scoops from the WorldTour, or covering stories from elsewhere in the domestic professional scene, he reports on goings on at bike shops up and down the UK, where he is based when not out on the road at races. He has also appeared on the Radio Cycling podcast. 

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tour of yorkshire cycling

Tour of the Alps: Tobias Foss wins stage 1 as GC contenders emerge

Ineos Grenadiers rider beats Chris Harper and Esteban Chaves

A long sprint by Tobias Foss (Ineos Grenadiers) from a late break of four riders netted the former world time trial champion victory in stage 1 of the Tour of the Alps.

Foss beat Chris Harper (Jayco-AIUIa), Esteban Chaves (EF Education-EasyPost) and Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R) after a quartet of riders attacked from a lead group of favourites close to the finish in Cortina.

Geraint Thomas finished sixth at three seconds, after being part of the major 11-rider selection. 

The key move of the 133 stage came on the second and final ascent and descent of the second category Penone climb, which saw the break to go clear.

Tentative attacks by Harper and Foss’ teammate Geraint Thomas shook up the leading move in the closing kilometres, but despite several late surges, Foss was the fastest in a drawn-out sprint, taking both the stage and the top spot on GC.

For both Foss and Ineos Grenadiers, taking an early victory at the Tour of the Alps has major resonance. 

It is Foss’ first win in a road race rather than a time trial and the first for the team he only joined last winter. After a slow and disappointing start to the year, the British team have now claimed two wins in as many days following Tom Pidcock’s triumph in the Amstel Gold Race.

It remains to be seen if Foss, not well-known as a climber, can defend his lead in the mountainous five-day race in Italy and Austria. However the presence of Thomas in the front group will certainly ensure the British team will have at least two cards to play in the four days of racing to come.

How it unfolded

Seven riders provided the early entertainment on the opening stage of the Tour of the Alps in the vineyard north of Trento, powering off the front of the peloton even before they had reached the first classified climb of the race, the very long but comparatively gentle cat.3 Andalo. 

Kyrlo Tsarenko (Corratec-Vini Fantini), Asier Etxeberria (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Nicklas Pedersen (TDT-Unibet), Mattia Bais and Andrea Garosio (both Polti Kometa), Simon Pellaud (Tudor Pro Cycling) and Masaki Yamamoto (JCL-Team UKYO) forged a move that gained a maximum of four minutes, with Pedersen eventually drifting back to the peloton and the remaining six doing their utmost to keep the bunch at bay.

Ineos Grenadiers, fielding one of the strongest teams in the race, did much of the initial work to keep the half-dozen within a reasonable distance. But the six held a three-minute advantage as they climbed the first of the two ascents of the key climb of the day, the category 2 Penone climb.  

The Penone’s 12% lower slopes almost instantly saw Japanese National Champion Yamamoto in trouble, followed by Tsarenko and the gradient clipped almost a minute’s advantage off the breakaway. 

No attacks materialised in the peloton but it was reduced to 50 riders, mostly thanks to Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale stepping on the collective accelerator in the second half of the rolling climb.

Come the summit, only Polti-Kometa teammates Bais and Garosio remained ahead of the break, ably conserving a 2:30 advantage as they dived down the technical, twisting descent and onto the much flatter valley floor below. 

Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale continued to drive behind, though, lining out the peloton and shredding the gap. Largely as a result, even before Bais and Garosio reached the Penone for a second time, their team car had already been told to pull over and wait for the bunch on the side of the road.

In less than a kilometre of the second assault of the Penone, the Polti-Kometa duo were caught, with Decathlon’s Valentin Paret-Peintre forcing the pace for his leader Ben O’Connor, tucked in just behind. 

Closely shadowed by Romain Bardet (Team dsm-fermenich-PostNL), Paret-Peintre’s insistent pressure too a significant toll on the peloton, but most of the main players, including Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) remained in the game in a front group of some 30 riders.

2023 race runner-up Hugh Carthy (EF Education-Easy Post) pushed hard over the summit, with 17 kilometres to go, a move which Bardet and Carthy’s teammate Esteban Chaves were quickest to counter, shattering the front of the race. 

The difficult descent further ensured that the splits remained in place, and a group containing Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious), Thomas, Harper, Amanuel Ghebreigzhabhier (Lidl-Trek), Bardet and Chaves formed just as the race left the Penone behind for good. 

O’Connor then quickly bridged across, along with Juanpe Lopez (Lidl-Trek), Paret-Peintre, Foss (Ineos Grenadiers) and Wout Poels (Bahrain Victorious), and the presence of so many top names all but ensured a strong initial collaboration, despite some discussions between Foss and and Lopez and then Thomas and Lopez. 

An attack by Harper with three kilometres failed to work out and risked destroying the fragile collaboration, with Movistar doggedly leading the chase. 

A long surge by Geraint Thomas proved unsuccessful and it was only when Chaves chanced his arm with one kilometre to go that a group of four went clear: O’Connor, Chaves, Harper and Foss got a gap and didn’t look back. 

Chaves went from a long way on the rising finish in Kurtinig but Foss was quick to play his own card, too, and in a sprint that took the four all the way through the twisting, cobbled finishing straight and under the gantries, the Norwegian stayed ahead to win.

Only three seconds separate the four stage leaders from their seven breakaway companions, though, making this early skirmish more a statement of intent than a major battle.

Held entirely in neighbouring Austria, stage 2 from Salorno to Stans could well continue the pattern of an early break and some flurries of GC action late on a category 2 climb, in this case the Gnadenwald, peaking out some 16 kilometres from the finish.

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Alasdair Fotheringham

Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews , he has also written for The Independent ,  The Guardian ,  ProCycling , The Express and Reuters .

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Tour de Staten Island bike tour set for April 21: Here’s what riders need to know

  • Updated: Apr. 15, 2024, 11:21 a.m. |
  • Published: Apr. 14, 2024, 12:06 p.m.

Tour de Staten Island

Registration is now open for the 12th Tour de Staten Island, which will take place on April 21. The event, which begins in Stapleton, is organized by Transportation Alternatives. (Staten Island Advance/Annalise Knudson)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Get on your bike and ride! The Tour de Staten Island returns Sunday, April 21.

Organized by Transportation Alternatives, a group that works to make the streets of New York City safer, this ride-at-your-own-pace, non-competitive bike tour will take riders around the landmarks and vistas of Staten Island

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2024 The Chevron Championship field: Players, rankings

T he 2024 The Chevron Championship field is set with the passing of the typical Friday entry deadline. The LPGA Tour field this week is set for this major championship event, played at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas, from April 18-21, 2024.

The The Chevron Championship field is headlined by the likes of Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson, Minjee Lee and more.

This is set to be a 132-player field is played out over four days, with this event marking the ninth event of the season and the first major championship on the calendar.

The tournament is being played in its originally intended slot, bringing the 2024 LPGA Tour schedule in the Texas area, with Carlton Woods hosting the tournament for the second year.

We do not have Monday qualifiers for this event in the field, with this being an invitational event.

The week-of alternate list is set for the week, with Hee Young Park and Jennifer Song being the first two names on the alternate list.

The field will be playing for a $5.2 million purse, with 46 of the top 50 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Ranking among the top contenders.

2024 The Chevron Championship field

Top 50 players in 2024 the chevron championship field.

The post 2024 The Chevron Championship field: Players, rankings first appeared on Golf News Net: What you need to know about golf .

Copyright, Golf News Net. All rights reserved.

A photo of Nelly Korda

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