Reigning world time trial champion Annemiek van Vleuten and British road race champion Connor Swift are among the latest big-name riders to confirm their attendance at the 2019 Tour de Yorkshire (2-5 May) and Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race (3-4 May).
Van Veluten is one of the most decorated riders in the female peloton and as well as winning the UCI Road World Championships Time Trial last year, she is also the current Giro Rosa, Women’s World Tour and La Course by Le Tour de France champion.
The Dutchwoman – who rides for Mitchelton Scott – most recently triumphed at Strade Bianche last month and will compete at Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes on Sunday before making her trip to Yorkshire.
She said:
“I am really looking forward to racing in Yorkshire. The crowds in the UK are always super awesome so I expect that in this race as well. I am also excited because the World Championships will be held in the county in September, so it will also be good to see some the road course featured on Friday’s stage.”
“I’ve looked at the race details and I think stage two really suits me so I am looking forward to that one in particular, it looks really hard.”
The 36 year old also praised the fact that the Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race leads the way in promoting parity between men’s and women’s racing. For the first time, the stages of this year’s route will be exactly the same as the men’s and the prize pot is also equal, making it one of the most lucrative races in the world. The women’s race, like the men’s, will also be televised live in its entirety – a rarity in the sport.
She added: “It is nice that the women’s race is running alongside the men’s as it means we can profit from more media attention. I really like that they have a stage race for us.”
Yorkshire fans will also be delighted to see Doncaster’s Connor Swift making his return to home roads in the national champion’s jersey. The 23-year-old Madison Genesis rider recce-ed the course earlier in the year and can’t wait to get going.
He said:
“Being able to race the Tour de Yorkshire in the national champion’s jersey and having the fans supporting me will be smashing. Cycling in Yorkshire has a massive following and we’re expecting huge crowds.”
You can watch Connor’s Stage One Recce film here: https://youtu.be/U5-a4f86vnY(external link)
If that wasn’t enough, fellow Yorkshire rider Abby-Mae Parkinson and Olympic gold medallist Elinor Barker have confirmed they will also be lining up next week for the British Team Drops outfit.
Those riders join four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome, Marcel Kittel and Lizzie Deignan who have already announced they will be competing in the 2019 edition. That trio are all set to appear onstage at the Tour de Yorkshire Eve of Tour celebrations in Millennium Square in Leeds between 6-7pm on Wednesday 1 May. This free event offers fans the perfect chance to get close to the riders before racing begins.
Full details on the Eve of Tour Celebrations and all things Tour de Yorkshire can be found at http://letouryorkshire.com(external link)
ENDS