East Riding fun festival as the Tour de Yorkshire starts in Beverley

Beverley is expecting thousands of people on Friday 29 April as the 3-day Tour de Yorkshire sets off from the town centre.

Lots of events happening in Beverley at the start of 2016's Tour de Yorkshire
Lots of events happening in Beverley at the start of 2016’s Tour de Yorkshire

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has organised a terrific line-up of events and Beverley Market is expected to have a fabulous festival atmosphere throughout the day.

The entertainment gets underway at 10am, well in advance of the Toll Gavel ceremonial start of the race at 11.50am, and continues all day. One of the most eagerly anticipated events will be Rebecca Romero, former World and Olympic cycling champion, meeting and chatting to spectators and taking part in a children’s race.

Other events include dancers, a choir made up of 120 people, stunt BMX bikers, and a race between the mascots of Hull FC’s Airlie Bird and Hull KR’s Rufus the Robin. In addition, for those wishing to keep up with the cycling, there will be a big TV screen in the market broadcasting the race from Beverley to Settle.

During the day, buses will run from two park and ride facilities to the town centre, one at Morrisons supermarket on the A164, south of Beverley, and the other on the A1079 at Bishop Burton College to the west of Beverley. Buses will run from 9am.

In addition to events in the town centre, the route of the race is likely to be lined with thousands of spectators keen to watch the Tour as the cyclists weave through the East Riding after the official start near Beverley Racecourse at midday. Riders will race through a number of East Riding hamlets, villages and towns, including Cherry Burton, Etton, South Dalton, Holme-on-the-Wolds, Middleton-on-the-Wolds, Market Weighton, Holme-on-Spalding-Moor, Foggathorpe, Harlthorpe and Bubwith, before heading to Settle.

Councillor Stephen Parnaby OBE, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “The inaugural race last year was a massive success and we’re expecting this year’s to be just as superb.

Motorists are warned that there will be a number of road closures along the route of the race, and are advised to take this into account when planning journeys on Friday, 29 April. In particular, Beverley town centre is expected to be very busy, so spectators are advised to use public transport wherever possible. A number of signs have been

Signs have been positioned along the route of the race and people are being asked to avoid parking along the route on the day.

Anyone looking for more information about activities and events in Beverley, the timings of the race throughout the East Riding, details about bus services, park and ride, road closures, etc., can visit this website: www.eastriding.gov.uk/tourdeyorkshire