Tour de Yorkshire: Bradley Wiggins and Lizzie Armitstead head men's and women's races
By Matt Westby
Last Updated: 18/05/20 10:21am
Sir Bradley Wiggins and Lizzie Armitstead will lead high-pedigree fields at the Tour de Yorkshire this weekend.
The men's race is now in its second year and will take place over three days from Friday, April 29, to Sunday, May 1.
Wiggins is one of four Tour de France stage winners taking part - joining Steve Cummings, Rohan Dennis and Thomas Voeckler - and there will be seven top-tier UCI WorldTour teams on the start line.
Team Sky's Lars Petter Nordhaug won last year's inaugural edition and returns to defend his title.
The women's edition, meanwhile, is being raced for the first time and will take place over one day on Saturday, April 30, on an exact replica of the course for second stage of the men's race.
Here is what you need to know about the two races…
THE STAGES
Men's Stage 1: Friday, April 29 - Beverley to Settle - 185km
Winner: Dylan van Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo). Race leader: Dylan van Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo).
Men's Stage 2 and women's race: Saturday, April 30 - Otley to Doncaster - 135.5km
Women's winner: Kirsten Wild (Hitec Products)
Men's winner: Danny van Poppel (Team Sky). Race leader: Dylan van Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo).
Men's Stage 3: Sunday, May 1 - Middlesbrough to Scarborough - 198km
Winner: Thomas Voeckler (Direct Energie). Race winner: Thomas Voeckler (Direct Energie).
KEY STAGE
Stage three. It is the most demanding stage of the race and could see decisive time gaps open up between the contenders.
THE FAVOURITES
Men's race
Lars Petter Nordhaug (Team Sky)
Nordhaug proved his pedigree on Yorkshire roads by winning last year's race, and this year's course also looks to suit him well. He showed he has decent form by finishing 20th at Liege-Bastogne-Liege last Sunday.
Thomas Voeckler (Direct Energie)
The ever-entertaining 36-year-old Frenchman finished third overall last year and should figure again this year given that the rolling, attritional stages suit him well.
Peter Kennaugh (Team Sky)
The 26-year-old from the Isle of Man is a strong all-rounder who has proven how good he is on UK roads by winning the British national road race title in each of the past two years. He can climb, is potent in solo escapes and also has a decent sprint.
Steve Cummings (Dimension Data)
The 35-year-old Briton has been in outstanding form this season, winning stages at both Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour of Basque Country with opportunist late attacks. He has proved he can climb well for a such a big man, so the terrain shouldn't trouble him too much.
Women's race
Lizzie Armitstead (Great Britain)
The reigning world champion will ride for Great Britain in the absence of her road team, Boels-Dolmans, but she will be no less a favourite for victory. The course may not be as hilly and testing as she likes, but given that it starts in her home town of Otley, motivation will be high.
Kirsten Wild (Hitec Products)
The 33-year-old Dutch rider has been in fine form this year, winning three sprints and picking up two second places already. The course should suit her and she also has the backing of a strong Hitec Products team.
Leah Kirchmann (Liv-Plantur)
The 30-year-old Canadian enjoyed a strong spring classics campaign, winning one race and finishing in the top four in another two, so she arrives in Yorkshire with good form.
TIME BONUSES
(Men's race only)
- 10, 6 and 4 bonus seconds will be awarded to the first three finishers on each stage.
- 3, 2 and 1 second will be awarded to the first three riders over the line at intermediate sprints.
THE JERSEYS
- Light blue: General classification.
- Green: Sprint classification.
- Pink: Mountains classification.
- Grey: Most aggressive rider.
- Dark blue: Best British rider.
PREVIOUS WINNER
2015: Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor).
