Tour de Yorkshire caravan and ambassadors tours back
The millions of spectators getting ready to line the route for the Tour de Yorkshire this week will have a special treat in store with organisers Welcome to Yorkshire and ASO confirming the publicity caravan and ambassadors tours are back for 2019.
This popular cycling tradition will see some of the county’s best-loved brands travel ahead of the men’s race on Thursday and Sunday, and behind the Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race on Friday and Saturday in a spectacular parade of specially decorated vehicles who will excite the crowds by handing out freebies and keepsakes at numerous locations along the route (full details of partners and timings are listed below).
This year’s caravan will be a mammoth 28 vehicles long and cycling fans will also be able to meet some of the legends of the sport - our Tour de Yorkshire Ambassadors - as they travel behind the cavalcade, greeting fans and posing for photographs. The ambassadors tour will be compered by one of Britain’s greatest former professional cyclists, Hugh Porter MBE.
Joining Hugh will be former Team Sky rider Russell Downing (from Rotherham), 1982 World Champion Mandy Bishop, Brian Robinson, the first Briton to win a stage of the Tour de France (from Mirfield), Denise Burton-Cole, world-class rider and daughter of the legendary Morley cyclist Beryl Burton, and Barry Hoban, from Wakefield, who won eight stages of the Tour de France between 1967 and 1975. Four-time national champion Lisa Brambani (from Bradford) completes the star-studded list.
Welcome to Yorkshire Commercial Director Peter Dodd said: “The publicity caravan is always a fun and light-hearted way to get roadside spectators excited as well as the dramatic racing.
“We’ve got some amazing brands taking part, as well as Help for Heroes and the official Tour de Yorkshire artist Mackenzie Thorpe, so it’ll be a superb spectacle not to be missed.
“We’re also delighted to welcome our wonderful race ambassadors back and their presence will help make this year’s Tour de Yorkshire one to remember.”
Participants in the publicity caravan include:
Asda, Biffa, Black Sheep Brewery, Carthy & Black, Eisberg, Global, Harrogate Spring Water, Help for Heroes, Jowett, LNER, Mackenzie Thorpe, Mug Shot, Northern Powergrid, Raisthorpe Yorkshire Tonic, Slingsby Gin, Soreen, Welcome to Yorkshire, Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries, the Yorkshire Regiment and Yorkshire 2019.
The proposed stop-off locations and approximate timings for the publicity caravan and ambassadors tour are:
Thursday 2 May:
The caravan will stop at Doncaster (at approximately 10:50am), Snaith (11:52), Rawcliffe (12:01), Howden (12:20), Ellerker (13:09), Walkington (13:54), Beverley (14:03), Côte de Baggaby Hill (14:50), Pocklington (15:09), Elvington (15:30) and Selby (16:29). The ambassadors meanwhile, will greet fans in Howden, Walkington, Beverley, Côte de Baggaby Hill, Pocklington and Selby.
Friday 3 May:
The caravan will stop at Barnsley (12:30), Mapplewell (12:45), Purston Jaglin (13:13), Pontefract (13:19), Kippax (13:39), Garforth (13:45), Harrogate (15:00), Ripon (15:46), West Tanfield (16:07) and Bedale (16:31). The ambassadors meanwhile, will greet fans in Pontefract, Garforth, Kippax, Bramhope, Côte de Lindley, Harrogate, Ripon and Bedale.
Saturday 4 May:
The caravan will stop at Bridlington (12:40), Hunmanby (13:10), Côte de Silpho (13:55), Fylingthorpe (14:27), Whitby (14:44), Côte de Lythe Bank (14:56), Grosmont (15:31) and Scarborough (16:36). The ambassadors meanwhile, will greet fans on the Côte de Silpho, Côte de Hooks House Farm, Whitby, Côte de Lythe Bank, Côte de Grosmont, Côte de Ugglebarnby and Scarborough.
Sunday 5 May:
The caravan will stop at Halifax (10:45), Haworth (11:05), Skipton (11:35), Kettlewell (12:39), Middleham (13:29), Masham (13:55), Pateley Bridge (14:41), Otley (15:37), Tinshill (16:00) and Leeds (16:23). The ambassadors meanwhile, will greet fans on the Côte de Goose Eye, Skipton, Côte de Barden Moor, Côte de Park Rash, Masham, Pateley Bridge, Côte de Greenhow, Otley and Leeds.
