Tour de Yorkshire 2018

[armchairclimber]

Just come from the launch at the amazing Square Chapel/ Piece Hall in Halifax. A fantastic route for the expanded mens and womens races was unveiled over an extended presentation hosted by Gary Verity, with cycling legends past and present in the audience. Whilst it's disappointing that there was no cobbled climb this year (Trooper Lane and Shibden Wall are both close to the start of stage 4), the roll out of stage four should be fantastic from the Piece Hall, Yorkshire's answer to Piazza del Campo, and the Park Rash climb out of Kettlewell should be brutal ... and will see huge crowds.
Sutton Bank should be another highlight, as well as a tour of the East coast with its more or less inevitable cross-winds.
The first uphill finish for the Tour de Yorkshire, the climb to Cow and Calf in Ilkley, caps stage 2. The crowds will be enormous there too.
Can't wait.

Route https://letour.yorkshire.com/tour-de-yorkshire-2018/

 

[MartinGT]

Wouldn't call it a fantastic route IMO. Stage 4 is a great stage, or should I say potential. The others are alright, little sedate, but alright.

I am struggling to see the Cow and Calf summit finish. The peloton should be pretty much together for that finish, albeit Old Pool Bank positioning for that will be important. Its quite a narrow climb and any issues you're screwed if you're hoping for GC. Cow and Calf is a lovely climb, but a 'summit finish' Hmmmm not sure.

Stage four though, I like. Park Rash should be fun and then it should all come back together before Greenhow again. Then a similar finish to the inaugural TdY, East Chevin, down Pool bank, along and up Black Hill (Which is uncategorised) and then into Leeds Centre this time.

 

[fauniera]

I like it, but the homepage is terrible.

Any cobbled climbs in there?

 

[armchairclimber]

Fauneria, no cobbled climbs ... missed opportunity. They could have had Heptonstall or Thwaites brow the way stage four is mapped, as well as the two I mentioned in the OP.

Martin, I suspect the Cow and Calf uphill finish is more about crowd spectacle than racing impact, though it might have an impact on GC ... stage one winner is unlikely to retain the lead IMO.

 

[MartinGT]

Re:

Fauneria, no cobbled climbs ... missed opportunity. They could have had Heptonstall or Thwaites brow the way stage four is mapped, as well as the two I mentioned in the OP.

Martin, I suspect the Cow and Calf uphill finish is more about crowd spectacle than racing impact, though it might have an impact on GC ... stage one winner is unlikely to retain the lead IMO.

The first year they went up there the crowds were just ridiculous. Made Dutch Corner look like a monastery!

Fingers crossed for the racing, certainly MILES better than this years ToB! But thats not difficult!

 

[armchairclimber]

Re: Re:

Fauneria, no cobbled climbs ... missed opportunity. They could have had Heptonstall or Thwaites brow the way stage four is mapped, as well as the two I mentioned in the OP.

Martin, I suspect the Cow and Calf uphill finish is more about crowd spectacle than racing impact, though it might have an impact on GC ... stage one winner is unlikely to retain the lead IMO.

The first year they went up there the crowds were just ridiculous. Made Dutch Corner look like a monastery!

Fingers crossed for the racing, certainly MILES better than this years ToB! But thats not difficult!

I was there when TOB went up. That was fairly crackers ... despite the police neutralising the race.

 

[yaco]

Cow and Calf will have a small impact on GC - Some want too much from a 4 stage race - There is only so much you can do.

 

[armchairclimber]

Re:

Cow and Calf will have a small impact on GC - Some want too much from a 4 stage race - There is only so much you can do.

To be fair, I don't really have complaints, especially about stage 4. There will be other years. I think it's the best route they've put together yet. Stage 4 has Cote de Goose Eye again, which was great fun last time they tackled it.

 

[del1962]

They can all stop for a pint of Old Peculiar in Masham, that would shake up the GC :lol:

Seriously stage 4 has potential, Park Rash is a brutal climb and there is a nasty kickup om the descent, from Park Rash its pretty lumpy so I could see a grupetto forming on Park Rash and a good selection

 

[del1962]

Re:

Fauneria, no cobbled climbs ... missed opportunity. They could have had Heptonstall or Thwaites brow the way stage four is mapped, as well as the two I mentioned in the OP.

Martin, I suspect the Cow and Calf uphill finish is more about crowd spectacle than racing impact, though it might have an impact on GC ... stage one winner is unlikely to retain the lead IMO.

Not sure what so early cobbled climbs would add

 

[armchairclimber]

Re: Re:

Fauneria, no cobbled climbs ... missed opportunity. They could have had Heptonstall or Thwaites brow the way stage four is mapped, as well as the two I mentioned in the OP.

Martin, I suspect the Cow and Calf uphill finish is more about crowd spectacle than racing impact, though it might have an impact on GC ... stage one winner is unlikely to retain the lead IMO.

Not sure what so early cobbled climbs would add

To be honest, Thwaites Brow would be best as part of a Yorkshire Cobbled Classic (please monsieurs Verity and Prudhomme) ... but Heptonstall would be a good wake up call instead of the rather dull (Cote de Hebden Bridge)

 

[luckyboy]

Stage one is quite worthless but it looks good aside from that. Something nice to watch instead of the Giro start with this and the women's race around.