Due to heavy rain that continues to fall across the northern section of the Elite Men’s Road Race route, Yorkshire 2019 and the UCI have taken the decision to divert the route at Bishopdale Beck just outside Aysgarth, and to direct riders east up Temple Bank and along the A684 to Leyburn where the race will continue as normal.
This shortens the route by 24km, but is compensated with 9-laps of the Harrogate Circuit.
The decision was made after extensive consultation with the UCI, multi-agency partners, the environment agency and local mountain rescue teams.
Yorkshire 2019, Organisers said:
We consider the safety of spectators and riders as paramount and want everyone to enjoy the racing, but the conditions in the Dales puts that at risk.
Sunday 29 September
Men Elite Road Race – Leeds to Harrogate 9:00am to 3:40pm (9-laps of Harrogate circuit)
The Fan Zone has been closed.
Fan Zone
08:00 Fan Zone opens
08:20 Live Racing
08:40 Men’s Elite Road Race
15:55 Medal Ceremony Men’s Elite Road Race
16:10 Best Nation Ceremony
16:25 Closing Ceremony
16:50 Northern Epidemic
18:20 The Feeling
20:30 Fan Zone closes
See UCI Fan Zone closes due to bad weather
The race will not now pass through Bainbridge, Hawes, Buttertubs, Muker, Gunnerside, Reeth, and Grinton Moor.
Organisers say that they know this will be hugely disappointing to the communities in these locations who have been planning events and celebrations to coincide with the race today – they are very sorry.
However, the Elite Men’s Road Race does go ahead today starting in Leeds at the later time of 9:00am.
Spectators who were hoping to see the race in Wensleydale and Swaledale should head to West Witton, Wensley or Leyburn where they can view the race as it passes through just before 11:00am.
There will also be nine laps of the Harrogate circuit before the finish on Parliament Street.
