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Embrace the Olympic spirit this Bank Holiday
Story published: Thursday, 21 August 2008
Forget jumping in your car over the Bank Holiday and going further afield, getting stuck in traffic jams and polluting the environment. Give in to your inner Olympic urges, get on your bike and challenge your friends to join you as you race through exhilarating Yorkshire landscapes.
The Tour of Britain will see many of the Olympic champions, including gold and bronze medallists, racing through Yorkshire and the Humber on September 11th as it follows a brand new route incorporating Hull, the Humber Bridge and along the East Coast to Dalby Forest in the North York Moors National Park. Compete against your nearest and dearest this weekend by cycling around the woodland trails before heading towards the scheduled finish point in Dalby Forest. Details of the route can be downloaded from www.yorkshire.com/tourofbritain It’s a great way to keep fit and have fun with your friends too!
If this seems like too much hard work don’t worry there are less challenging routes to choose. Yorkshire has three National Parks, two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a diverse mix of cosmopolitan cities, market towns and an abundance of picturesque villages all waiting to be explored. Whether you fancy a city bike ride perusing local attractions, a lazy afternoon meandering past wild flower meadows or a challenging ride over craggy coastal cliff tops, Yorkshire is a dramatically changing landscape that is best explored by bike.
Extend your stay and make it easier on yourself. Longer routes include the Trans Pennine Trail which weaves coast to coast through Hull, Leeds, Sheffield and York but has long sections which are completely traffic free. Split your trip over several days and choose from a great choice of VisitBritain Cyclists Welcome accommodation. With facilities specially designed to cater for the needs of cyclists, and regular customers alike, these providers take the time to ensure you receive a warm Yorkshire welcome and a very comfortable stay.To find out more about the accommodation options available in Yorkshire log onto www.yorkshire.com
Joanna Royle, Welcome to Yorkshire Marketing Director, is keen to encourage everyone to ‘get on their bikes’ this weekend:
“For many people it is becoming increasingly important to find activities that do not have a high environmental cost. Yorkshire has an abundance of stunning open spaces for everyone to go out on their bikes and enjoy free time over the August Bank Holiday Weekend.
“For those who prefer an overnight stay there is an excellent selection of accommodation choices from campsites to luxury hotels which can be booked online at www.yorkshire.com”
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For further information, please call Beverley Richmond, Press Officer
Notes to the Editor:
1. The Yorkshire Stage of the Tour of Britain is delivered through a collaboration of regional partners including:
Yorkshire Forward
Yorkshire Culture
Yorkshire Tourist Board
North Yorkshire County Council
Yorkshire Moors & Coast Tourism Partnership
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Visit Hull and East Yorkshire Tourism Partnership
Kingston-upon-Hull Council
North Lincolnshire Council
North York Moors National Park
Scarborough Borough Council
Ryedale District Council
Forestry Commission
2. Quotes extending key regional partners support of the Yorkshire Stage of Tour of Britain are as follows:
“I am delighted that the region is hosting the Tour of Britain once again – in addition to bringing cycling enthusiasts to the region, the event offers an excellent opportunity for people to ‘get on their bikes’ and enjoy the region’s cities and open spaces whilst raising their fitness levels.
“Yorkshire Forward, together with its partners across Yorkshire and Humber, has a clear goal to attract more major events to the region by demonstrating its ability to host major sporting events. The Tour of Britain has been one of our biggest successes, and we are happy to welcome the riders and the organisers to Yorkshire.”
Terry Hodgkinson, Chair of Yorkshire Forward
“High quality cultural and sporting events provide an excellent opportunity to showcase to the world the achievements and aspirations of our region. The Yorkshire stage of the Tour of Britain Cycle Race will attract both national and international attention for an area not only rich in scenic beauty and cultural heritage but it also demonstrates that Yorkshire is a leading outdoor destination for cyclists of all abilities”.
Gary Topp, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Culture
"The Tour of Britain is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the wonderful landscapes and cityscapes of Yorkshire such as the Humber Bridge and Dalby Forest to a global audience. The Tour provides a great chance to encourage additional visitors to the region as spectators of the event, as well as demonstrating what a wonderful location Yorkshire is for enjoying the great outdoors. We are confident that this year's event will be a huge success and will further raise the profile of Yorkshire as a world class destination."
David Andrews , Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire
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