Tour of Yorkshire *spoiler*

rick_chasey

So I'm in Doncaster for the weekend; the finish town for stage 2.

Serious excitement around here for it.

I'd say every 20 houses has a yellow painted bike outside. Lots and lots of houses have bunting in Yorkshire blue and yellow. Lots of signs out, welcoming the riders and telling them to "get on your bike"

Finish like decorated to the 9s. Final straight has bunting criss crossing the road the whole way down.

It's crazy.

All the locals have been boning up on the favourite riders, including the women (which also goes past).

Overheard someone say "that show off Frenchie, wotisname, Voorklerr? They did a good job getting him in." " oo aye".

They're quite proud of the prize money for the women is so high too.

Local kids from the school in the village I'm in have arranged a big show for the helicopter too.

jimmythecuckoo

It sort of passed me but last year, but I am quite excited for it this time around.

yorkshireraw

My parents town is also 'all-in' with Yellow bikes, bunting etc.
The race is literally going past the end of their road, but probably at about 50kph so not sure they'll see much!

I'll be on Sutton Bank.

kleinstroker

looking good!

rick_chasey

Yup. Baltic up here.

Good luck to the sportive riders....

RonB

Same view this morning.



So fingers crossed.

jimmythecuckoo

what's the sportive like? fancy doing it one year.

mechanism

Still some snow about though - could be a Tour of Catalunya ski station finish but with dry stone walls

bobmcstuff

Sweet... Is it going to be on Eurosport? Or BBC?

blazing_saddles

Whole stage coverage of the entire race on ITV 4, plus the last couple of hours of the women's race.
Eurosport have the last couple of hours of each stage, plus all of the women's race on Saturday, live.

bobmcstuff

Great. Will make my colleagues watch it tomorrow then

effillo

Can't wait for this race again this year, just something about racing on British roads.

Who do we reckon is up for this? Who is leading Sky? I quite fancy Pete or Luke Rowe at 18-1 and 25-1 respectively.

bigmat

Did you miss le grand depart up there Rick? Awesome atmosphere. Race starts in my home town tomorrow, shame its on a Friday as I don't have enough leave to get up there for it. Will be watching on TV over the weekend though, should be a good race. I know a few of the women racing as well so will be keeping an eye on that. Oh, and I won a signed Dimension Data bottle - fantastic!

gregster04

I will be in Settle tomorrow (unless this weather takes a serious turn for the worst) and I am expecting a Caleb Ewan win. Not sure he will enjoy the cold that much though.

Kennaugh has been busy today but also said he is just hoping to finish the race and help out Nordhaug.

It will all be decided up on my home territory, the North York Moors, on Sunday. I am hoping to catch the race there and maybe get into Scarborough too.

shockedsoshocked

It passes within 50 yards of my house and I'm offshore

gsk82

ShockedSoShocked wrote:

It passes within 50 yards of my house and I'm offshore

Didn't you get your 50m badge at school?

ducknumber1

Plenty of snow in South Leeds today, not sure how much there is on the route on the other side of Leeds.

And it's still snowing.

teebs_123

Bright and clear in York at the moment. The wind isn't as strong as originally forecasted yet either

Pross

Can't see the temperature staying low enough by race time for any snow to be an issue. It will effectively be just a cold and wet race at worst. It was a really good race last year from memory. Hopefully it will remain that way but there's a risk riders will be more conservative once they work out how tough the race is.

bobmcstuff

The weather is utterly foul this morning! Should be good

webboo

It was snowing round Beverley this morning at 7.00 then it was nice and sunny. It's now 4 degrees and pissing down. I might have to watch it from the bedroom window rather than walking to the end of the street to see it.

RichN95.

Today's stage genuinely goes through villages called Bedlam, Burnt Yates and Glasshouses

gethinceri

outstanding irony.

kleinstroker

RichN95 wrote:

Today's stage genuinely goes through villages called Bedlam, Burnt Yates and Glasshouses

Yorkshire is great!

FCE2007

I'll be between North Duffield and the A19 on a fast stretch of road just after the sprint.
Bit nippy but the sun pops out now and again. Wind will be in their faces all day though.

It'll be reyt

wallace_and_gromit

Sun's out in Tadcaster. Still more like November than May though.

rick_chasey

Coverage kicks off at 11:45

RonB

RichN95 wrote:

Today's stage genuinely goes through villages called Bedlam, Burnt Yates and Glasshouses

Missing the chance to head up the Côte de Blubberhouses tomorrow in favour of Otley to Harewood (S1 TdF route in reverse).

dav1d1

Crash already involing team Wiggins and gb riders, now who mentioned ss

Ben6899

I'm back up North tonight, but not sure how much I'll see despite Stage 2 going through my home town.

Rick, are you right in Donny or somewhere nearby? Got your bike with you?

gsk82

RonB wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Today's stage genuinely goes through villages called Bedlam, Burnt Yates and Glasshouses

Missing the chance to head up the Côte de Blubberhouses tomorrow in favour of Otley to Harewood (S1 TdF route in reverse).

It does seem like the organisers don't know much of the area. They repeatedly use the same roads as the TdF and act likes it's a positive thing, and stage 3 this year is basically last year's stage 1