Tour de Yorkshire could move to 2021 and be ‘catalyst for economy and civic pride’

The annual four-day cycling race was due to begin in Beverley this morning and finish in Leeds on Sunday but has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Talks between co-organisers Welcome to Yorkshire and the Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO) in France over when to reschedule the race for are on hold until the government lockdown ends.

ASO have already moved the sport’s flagship event the Tour de France to September, and there is a host of marquee cycling races to re-order that rank above Yorkshire’s race.

With that in mind, and with a broader sporting calendar to consider, it is looking increasingly likely the event will be postponed until next year.

“We are positive and remain hopeful that the 2020 Tour de Yorkshire race will take place,” James Mason, the chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, told The Yorkshire Post.

“If that is in 2021 when we can get maximum exposure for the race in terms of sponsors, better weather prospects, a Bank Holiday weekend when we have the extra day, a less cluttered calendar etc, then so be it. Because we don’t want to crowbar it in.

“We have to look at the bigger picture of the full race calendar. It’s great that the Tour de France has a provisional date but we appreciate there are bigger races to get in before us. When we start looking at dates with ASO and British Cycling, we have to respect the full sporting calendar. Once we know when lockdown will be lifted, that is when we can start having the conversations for real.”

Whenever it returns, Mason wants the next staging of the race to be the best yet, with the tourism agency keen to use the current abeyance to invite the public’s input into how to improve the event.

This is contract year for the Tour de Yorkshire, with their deal with ASO expiring after the sixth staging of the race.

While Mason is overseeing a much tighter budget since succeeding Sir Gary Verity, he understands how uplifting an event of this magnitude can be.

“I think if the jury is out for anyone, then the potential loss of this year’s race will just bring home how important it is for the people of Yorkshire,” he said.

“Not just from a sporting perspective but from a geographical, an economic and a cultural perspective too.

“When the race does come back it can be a real catalyst for the economy and for civic pride.
If it is to be delayed to 2021, then this is our chance to make it the best yet, to remodel it.

“I want to hear from people about what works well and what doesn’t work well. Let’s turn this negative into a positive and use it to improve the event. How can we make the celebration last longer? How can we affect more people?

“The new Welcome to Yorkshire has to make sure all cheques are balanced. But the Tour de Yorkshire demonstrates the best of our community spirit and this is an opportunity for everyone to play their part.”

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