Richmondshire communities welcomed the world’s best junior cyclists yesterday as the first of two UCI World Championships stages to visit the district took place.
The men’s junior race started in Richmond, with the riders making their way through Catterick Garrison to Leyburn and the up Wensleydale to Aysgarth, before they headed up Kidstones and into Wharfedale.
USA sealed their second rainbow jersey and added another two medals to their overall tally at the 2019 UCI Road World Championships as Quinn Simmons won the the race ahead of Italy’s Alessio Martinelli and his compatriot Magnus Sheffield.
Once again, the weather gods played their part in the drama. Richmond was bathed in sunshine at the start of the day as huge crowds, including hundreds of local schoolchildren, packed Market Place to see the riders away.
The conditions deteriorated on the 106.6km trek to Harrogate, but that didn’t stop the Dales looking spectacular as the peloton wound their way through Buckden, Burnsall and Blubberhouses.
Giant land art dotted the route and images of Bolton Castle, Kilnsey Crag and Bolton Abbey were among the landmarks being beamed to millions of people across the globe.
Communities along the route came out to watch the spectacle with several including Carperby using grants from the district council to pay for big screens to show the race.
The event will return to Richmondshire on Sunday when the elite men’s race follows the route used when the 2014 Tour de France held its Grand Depart in the district.
Here are some of the events planned this weekend to celebrate the race:
Bainbridge
Community Fun Day – Sunday, September 29, 9am to 5pm
The community in Bainbridge have arranged for a family fun day on the village green, right on the route of the Men’s elite race on Sunday. Activity includes pop-up stalls, inflatables, music and entertainment and a big screen to watch the race!
Hawes
Dales Countryside Museum – Saturday, September 28
Screening of films, family activities and workshops, open air cinema on the evening of Saturday 28th September, organised by Stage 1 Cycles. There will also be live music from Also Known As.
Hawes Community Funday – Sunday, September 29, 10am to 6pm
Hawes are having a Family Fun Day on the Hawes Community Fields as the Men’s Elite Road Race passes by. They’ve arranged for a bar, disco, cake stalls, bouncy castle, craft stalls, face painting, body glitter and sports — and a big screen showing the race!
Buttertubs Pass Land Art – Sunday, September 29, 11.15am
Grid reference – 54°20’23.8″N 2°12’28.5″W
Yorkshire based artist Adrian Riley and student designer Emily Vitty were chosen by Richmondshire District Council to design, create and install the land art close to the Buttertubs Pass.
Leyburn
Leyburn Mini Fan Zone – Sunday, September 29
A big screen to view the race, live local music, food court, climbing wall, funfair rides. The caravan is also due through Leyburn at around 09.30 ahead of the race around midday.
Reeth
Caravan – Sunday, September 29, 8am to 9.20am
For the very first time in the event’s 98-year history, Yorkshire 2019 have organised a publicity ‘Caravan’. This was hugely popular when the Tour de France came to Yorkshire in 2014, and this year, the flotilla will travel the Men’s Elite Road Race route from Reeth in the Yorkshire Dales national Park down to Leeds.
Reeth was chosen especially as a way of recognising the resolve and spirit shown in the wake of the severe flash flooding which ravaged parts of Yorkshire Dales last month.
Swaledale (which encompasses Reeth) was particularly badly hit with many residents suffering damage to their homes and businesses. The bridge on Grinton Moor – which was due to feature in the Men’s Elite Road Race – was washed away completely but North Yorkshire County Council are acting swiftly to build a temporary replacement, meaning the route for that race will be unchanged.
Swaledale Fan Hub at the Dales Bike Centre – Throughout Championships week
The Dales Bike Centre in Fremington have setup a Swaledale Fan Hub for the Championships. They’re showing all the races on a big screen, arranging food, drink and entertainment, and have organised bike rides out to see the racing at various locations in the National Park. Dales Bike Centre have also done a fantastic job spreading the message that the Yorkshire Dales are opening for business following the freak flash flood at the end of July.
The Beefeaters at Grinton Moor Summit – Sunday, September 29, 9am to 11.55am
Since 2014 The 6 ‘Beefeaters’, a group of distinctly average cyclists, have been an ever present at the Tour de France. A group of friends brought together by their love of road cycling and a passion for sharing good times.
Together they’ve been putting on ‘probably the best party at the Tour de France’ all over the French Alps for six years.
This year they’re bringing the party to Yorkshire and the UCI Road World Championships. They are the world’s best cycling fan, and you can experience them ramping up the atmosphere on the Grinton Moor Summit during the Men’s Elite Road Race.
Here are the timings for Sunday’s race:
For details on road closures and parking restrictions on Sunday click here.
