Thursday 26 April 2018 MORE STAR RIDERS CONFIRMED WITH ONE WEEK TO GO! With one week to go until the start of the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire, organisers Welcome to Yorkshire and the ASO have unveiled more star names who are set to compete between 3-6 May. Rio 2016 track gold medallist Owain Doull is set to be named in the Team Sky line up which includes British compatriot and two-time Omloop Het Nieuwsblad winner Ian Stannard. Three-time Tour de France stage winner Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Énergie) is also set to compete, as is French sprint star Bryan Coquard (Vital Concept), two-time Vuelta a Espana stage victor Magnus Cort Nielsen (Astana), and 2017 Tour de Yorkshire King of the Mountain Pieter Weening (Rompot-Nederlandse Loterij). There are no-less than 11 Yorkshire-based riders on the provisional start list, equalling the figure from 2017 despite UCI regulations seeing team sizes reduced from eight to seven riders to entice more exciting racing. These include Great Britain Cycling Team duo Ben Swift and Tom Pidcock who were announced on Wednesday. Ben’s cousin Connor will represent Madison Genesis while former British champions Adam Blythe (Aqua Blue Sport) and Russell Downing (Holdsworth Racing) will also be in action. These latest additions follow the big news earlier this month that Mark Cavendish (Team Dimension Data), Olympic road champion Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing) and defending Tour de Yorkshire champion Serge Pauwels (Team Dimension Data) will all be present for the fourth edition. Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive Sir Gary Verity is thrilled to have attracted such a strong field and is looking forward immensely to four exciting days of action. He said: “It’s always exciting to receive the provisional start list and once again we’ve been able to attract a stellar cast of riders. “I can’t wait to see them compete over the four stages, and the route we’ve laid on this year will certainly test them and deliver spectacular action. “The word has definitely got around the peloton about the massive crowds and unbelievable reception they will receive in Yorkshire, and I’m sure people will come out in force again next week to give them another hero’s welcome.” ASO’s Tour de France Director Christian Prudhomme said: “These high-profile riders want to visit Yorkshire because of the amazing greeting they receive. They also know the county provides amazing routes and scenery, and this year’s route looks fantastic, with something for every type of rider. “I am looking forward to visiting Yorkshire once again and am sure the 2018 edition will be the biggest and best one yet.” Full details on the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire and Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race can be found at http://letouryorkshire.com Welcome to Yorkshire has also launched its Tour de Yorkshire Land Art and Best Dressed Competitions. Full details on how to enter those can be found at http://letouryorkshire.com/landart and http://letouryorkshire.com/bestdressed respectively. ENDS Notes to editors: • The Tour de Yorkshire was launched in 2015 as a legacy of the 2014 Grand Départ. It is organised by Welcome to Yorkshire and the Amaury Sport Organisation. • The men’s race holds a 2.1 UCI Europe Tour classification. • The Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race was awarded 1.2 status in 2016. • 2.2 million spectators lined the route for the 2017 edition, up from 2 million in 2016. • The 2017 edition was watched by 9.7 million TV viewers in 180 countries. • The 2017 edition generated £64 million for the Yorkshire economy. • The race is supported by Yorkshire Bank, Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries, Asda, Dimension Data, Virgin Trains East Coast, Tissot, Le Coq Sportif, Global Autocare, Sky Betting & Gaming, Soreen, Mug Shot, RAGT Seeds, Named Sport, Mavic, Doncaster Sheffield Airport and Black Sheep. For further information, contact: Nick Howes – Head of Sports Media Email: [email protected] Direct: 0113 322 3505 Mobile: 07590 964 828 .