Record number of teams unveiled for 2018 Tour de Yorkshire and ASDA Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race
With just over six weeks to go until the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire, organisers Welcome to Yorkshire and Amaury Sport Organisation have announced a record 40 teams will compete.
Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive Sir Gary Verity shared the news at Y18 - the UK’s largest tourism event - in Bradford on Wednesday and revealed 20 men’s and women’s teams will be in action, up from 36 in 2017. Of those, 10 teams will be taking part for the very first time.
The men’s race – which takes place between 3-6 May – will include six UCI WorldTour teams, seven Pro Continental outfits and six British squads, with the new Yorkshire-based (although Irish registered) Holdsworth Pro Racing making their debut alongside Astana, Euskadi Basque Country – Murias, Rally Cycling and Vital Concept.
The Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race on 3-4 May also boasts an expanded field. Seven of the 12 top-ranked teams in the world will be in action along with four further European and nine British squads. Of those, Boompods EDCo, Experza-Footlogix, Parkhotel Valkenburg and Cycle Team OnForm are new additions for 2018.
Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive Sir Gary Verity said: “The demand from teams looking to compete in the Tour de Yorkshire is always high and that reflects the esteem in which our race is regarded. Reducing the number of riders per team from eight to seven in the men’s event meant we could invite more squads than ever before, and we also upped the number of women’s teams from 18 to 20 to ensure parity.
“Having the best teams in the business coming to Yorkshire is a massive coup and we’re delighted to have a record number of British-based teams pitting themselves against the world’s finest riders.
“Teams want to compete at the Tour de Yorkshire as they know they will be guaranteed massive crowds, exciting racing and an electric atmosphere.
“Last year 2.2 million spectators lined the route and the fourth edition promises to be the biggest and best one yet.”
The men’s and women’s team line-ups will be finalised in the fortnight before the race with a number of big-name attendees set to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
Tour de Yorkshire Men's Race Teams
The full list of teams for the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire is as follows:
Six UCI WorldTour teams:
Astana Pro Team (KAZ), BMC Racing Team (USA), Team Dimension Data (RSA), Team Katusha Alpecin (SUI), Team Sky (GBR) and Team Sunweb (GER).
Seven UCI Pro Continental teams:
Aqua Blue Sport (IRE), Cofidis, Solutions Credits (FRA), Direct Energie (FRA), Euskadi Basque Country – Murias (ESP), Rally Cycling (USA), Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij (NED) and Vital Concept (FRA).
Six UCI Continental teams:
Canyon Eisberg (GBR), Holdsworth Pro Racing (IRE), JLT Condor (GBR), Madison Genesis (GBR), One Pro Cycling (GBR) and Vitus Pro Cycling (GBR).
One national team:
Team GB (GBR)
Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race Teams
The full list of teams for the 2018 Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race is as follows:
Ale Cipollini (ITA), Bepink (ITA), Boels Dolmans Cycling Team (NED), Boompods EDCo NRG (GBR), Canyon Sram Racing (GER), Experza-Footlogix (BEL), FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope (FRA), Hitec Products Birk Sport (NOR), Doltcini – Van Eyck Sport (BEL), NJC-Biemme-Echelon (GBR), Parkhotel Valkenburg (NED), Storey Racing (GBR), Team GB (GBR), Cycle Team OnForm (GBR), Jadan - Weldtite Vive Le Velo (GBR), Team Sunweb (NED), Torelli Brother (GBR), Trek-Drops (GBR), Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling (GBR) & WNT Rotor Pro Cycling Team (GBR)
