‘Yorkshire and cycling go hand in hand’, says Tour de France legend Chris Froome

Yorkshire-bound: Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome is to make his long-awaited debut at the Tour de Yorkshire next month. In an interview with the official Tour de Yorkshire programme, he speaks glowingly about the countys affection for cycling and his plans for the race with Team Sky, who will relaunch as Team INEOS ahead of the race. Froome is pictured at last years Tour of Britain. (Picture: Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com)

The most decorated British road cyclist of all time makes his long-awaited first appearance in the Tour de Yorkshire from May 2-5.

It marks the first time he has raced in the county since opening the defence of his first Tour de France title here in 2014, when the memorable Grand Depart weekend sparked the region’s boom in cycling.

The introduction of the annual Tour de Yorkshire followed in 2015, and later this year the county will host the UCI Road World Championships.

Chris Froome at the start of of the first stage of the Tour de France in in Leeds in 2014. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)

These events combined have thrust Yorkshire into the global cycling spotlight, and Froome for one is excited to be coming back as the race’s headline act.

“Having the Tour de France start in Yorkshire obviously got a lot of people out and got a lot of people really excited about cycling,” said Froome, in the official Tour de Yorkshire programme.

“And the knock-on effect that it had is just massive, to the extent where Yorkshire and cycling now go hand in hand.”

Froome has had to wait for his Tour de Yorkshire debut due to its proximity to the Giro d’Italia, the first grand tour of the year which traditionally starts a week after the White Rose race finishes. But having won the Giro last year to complete the grand tour set, Froome can now concentrate on winning the four-day race that begins in Doncaster on Thursday, May 2, and finishes in Leeds on Sunday, May 5.

Chris Froome, Team Sky, during the Tour de France Team Presentation Opening Ceremony, First Direct Arena, Leeds.
3 July 2014. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson) — Chris Froome, Team Sky, during the Tour de France Team Presentation Opening Ceremony, First Direct Arena, Leeds. 3 July 2014. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)

“My memories from racing in Yorkshire is of just being absolutely overwhelmed by everyone who came out to support – and just the magnitude of it,” said Froome, who will lead the challenge of Team INEOS – formerly Team Sky – in May.

“It was just overwhelming. But at the same time, the racing was really good. The terrain in Yorkshire, given how undulating it is and how savage some of the climbs are, make it such a unique challenge. The roads can also be twisty, it’s always up and down, so it makes for some interesting racing.”