Tour de Yorkshire race guide

Get set for the second edition of Yorkshire's stage race as we look to retain our title.

Lars Petter Nordhaug returns to the Tour de Yorkshire this week hoping to retain his crown as the world of cycling descends on Yorkshire once again.

2015's inaugural edition proved incredibly popular as huge crowds lined the region's roads to mark the first edition of the three-day stage race, following in the footsteps of the 2014 Tour de France Grand Depart, and the support will no-doubt be just as strong for this year's race (April 29-May 1) as it cements its reputation as one of the most exciting on the calendar.

Our line up

Lars Petter will be backed up by a strong team in Yorkshire as we look to make it two wins from two, with Brits Luke Rowe, Peter Kennaugh and Andy Fenn all racing on home roads. Gianni Moscon and Danny van Poppel will provide plenty of power, while the experience of Nico Roche and Zabier Xandio will be invaluable.

Stage guide

Friday 29 April - Stage one: Beverley - Settle, 185km

The race starts in Beverley, which also played host to the event in 2015, and the riders will head west on day one towards Leeds, before turning north and skirting round Harrogate on their way to Settle. The day's only King of the Mountain points will be up for grabs on Greenhow Hill and the stage concludes with a 12km loop around Settle before an expected bunch finish.

Saturday 30 April - Stage two: Otley - Doncaster, 136km

The one-day women's race will be held on exactly the same route as this, with the women starting in the morning before the men set off in the afternoon. The stage starts in Pool-in-Wharfedale and there are two King of the Mountain opportunities early on at Harewood Bank and East Rigton before an intermediate sprint at Scholes on the outskirts of Leeds. After that initial excitement, the route heads south and there will be more King of the Mountain points up for grabs at Conisbrough Castle. The day is likely to finish in a sprint on Doncaster's South Parade.

Sunday 1 May - Stage three: Middlesbrough - Scarborough 198km

Unquestionably the race's queen stage, and where the overall win will be decided. With six classified climbs the route takes the riders across the stunning North York Moors and then down the coast from Whitby to the finish in Scarborough, where the peloton will have to deal with the sharp categorised climb of Oliver's Mount in the last 10km.

Our history

Lars Petter Nordhaug stormed into the race lead on day one last year and defended his jersey in style across the three days to take the title.

The Norwegian sprinted to the stage one win out of a select group of five riders on the Scarborough seafront after a gruelling 174km test to move into the blue leader's jersey, and aided by a fantastic team effort, he finished high up in the bunch on day two to keep the lead before sealing the Yorkshire crown with a sixth-placed finish on the final day.

The race will live long in the memory for the support the team received along the route, with Sport Director Rod Ellingworth summing it up after 2015's final stage: "The crowds today were incredible, especially considering in some places it was heaving down with rain. We've all really enjoyed it."

Riders to watch

Lots of big names will descend on Yorkshire for the race, with Paris-Roubaix winner Mathew Hayman (Orica-GreenEdge), Steve Cummings (Dimension Data) and Thomas Voeckler (Direct-Energie) all examples of the calibre of rider the race has attracted. Sir Bradley Wiggins (Team Wiggins) will receive lots of roadside support as he continues his preparation for the Rio Olympics, while young sprinter Caleb Ewan (Orica-GreenEdge) will be in the hunt for stage wins.

TV coverage

Every stage will be televised live and in full on ITV4, with an hour long highlights show in the evening. Live coverage will also be available on Eurosport 2.

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