Tour de Yorkshire unveils sportive route and latest fan jersey

The Tour de Yorkshire has unveiled its latest fan jersey, along with details of the sportive open to the public this year.

The brand new commemorative jersey and official merchandise features the Yorkshire rose, the names of each host town, the Tour de Yorkshire logo and a distinctive Y pattern.

The jerseys are available in mens and women designs, in a new high tech fabric for this year.

Ed Cowburn of Milltag, who designed the jersey, said: “The design has evolved from the 2015 edition, and the greatest difference is the colour.

“A darker blue has been added as a nod to the colours of back-to-back champions - Yorkshire County Cricket Club. To celebrate the start and finish towns for each stage, we have created a graphic focussed around a Yorkshire rose that appears subtly on the back of jersey and will feature across the race winners' jerseys too.

“The Y pattern inspired by Yorkshire’s textile heritage also features, as it did last year.”

Sir Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “The new jersey reflects Yorkshire’s proud sporting heritage and is a superb tribute to this year’s race. Each host town is named on the back and I very much look forward to seeing it being proudly worn by riders across the world.”

In addition to the jerseys, the Maserati Tour de Yorkshire Ride, the official sportive of the Tour de Yorkshire which is being held on Sunday 1 May, has gone on general sale.

With three routes to choose from (40km, 80km and 119km) there will be a route for every level of rider. Each route starts and finishes in Scarborough. Those tackling the 119km route will face a number of climbs including testing inclines at Harwood Dale, Dalby Forest and Oliver’s Mount and all riders will use the same finish line as the professional race crosses later the same day. Riders who want to take part should register now by clicking here.

Last year David Millar took part along with his father Gordon, a more recent convert to road cycling.

Luxury Italian sports car marque Maserati is sponsoring the sportive for the second year running, having signed up recently retired Millar, as brand ambassador.

Millar said, “We wanted to give the riders of the Maserati Tour de Yorkshire Ride a look at the route as there are a few very hard climbs. Parts of the route were used in Stage Two of last year’s Tour de France with many parts catching out the pro-riders.”

The Maserati Tour de Yorkshire Ride will see one hundred Maserati management, staff and customers join the sportive.

Bernard Hinault, 5 times Tour de France winner said: “The Tour de France has had a sportive alongside it for many years and it’s a unique experience for amateur riders to ride at L’Etape; so to have this similar experience available at the Tour de Yorkshire will be magnifique and something all keen riders will want to be part of.”

Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, says: “This is a fantastic chance for people to ride this iconic route and we hope it will, as part of the legacy of the Grand Départ, get more people of all ages and all abilities cycling.”