Wednesday 21 March 2018 RECORD NUMBER OF TEAMS UNVEILED FOR 2018 TOUR DE YORKSHIRE AND ASDA TOUR DE YORKSHIRE WOMEN’S RACE With just over six weeks to go until the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire, organisers Welcome to Yorkshire and Amaury Sport Organisation have announced a record 40 teams will compete. Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive Sir Gary Verity shared the news at Y18 - the UK’s largest tourism event - in Bradford on Wednesday and revealed 20 men’s and women’s teams will be in action, up from 36 in 2017. Of those, 10 teams will be taking part for the very first time. The men’s race – which takes place between 3-6 May – will include six UCI WorldTour teams, seven Pro Continental outfits and six British squads, plus the new Yorkshire-based (although Irish registered) Holdsworth Pro Racing making their debut alongside Astana, Euskadi Basque Country – Murias, Rally Cycling and Vital Concept. The Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race on 3-4 May also boasts an expanded field. Seven of the 12 top-ranked teams in the world will be in action along with five further European and nine British squads. Of those, Boompods EDCo, Experza-Footlogix, NJC Biemme Echelon, Parkhotel Valkenburg and Team OnForm are new additions for 2018. Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive Sir Gary Verity said: “The demand from teams looking to compete in the Tour de Yorkshire is always high and that reflects the esteem in which our race is regarded. Reducing the number of riders per team from eight to seven in the men’s event meant we could invite more squads than ever before, and we also upped the number of women’s teams from 18 to 20 to ensure parity. “Having the best teams in the business coming to Yorkshire is a massive coup and we’re delighted to have a record number of British-based teams pitting themselves against the world’s finest riders. “Teams want to compete at the Tour de Yorkshire as they know they will be guaranteed massive crowds, exciting racing and an electric atmosphere. “Last year 2.2 million spectators lined the route and the fourth edition promises to be the biggest and best one yet.” The men’s and women’s team line-ups will be finalised in the fortnight before the race with a number of big-name attendees set to be unveiled in the coming weeks. The full list of teams for the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire is as follows: Six UCI WorldTour teams: Astana Pro Team (KAZ), BMC Racing Team (USA), Team Dimension Data (RSA), Team Katusha Alpecin (SUI), Team Sky (GBR) and Team Sunweb (GER). Seven UCI Pro Continental teams: Aqua Blue Sport (IRE), Cofidis, Solutions Credits (FRA), Direct Energie (FRA), Euskadi Basque Country – Murias (ESP), Rally Cycling (USA), Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij (NED) and Vital Concept (FRA). Six UCI Continental teams: Canyon Eisberg (GBR), Holdsworth Pro Racing (IRE), JLT Condor (GBR), Madison Genesis (GBR), One Pro Cycling (GBR) and Vitus Pro Cycling (GBR). One national team: Team GB (GBR). The full list of teams for the 2018 Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race is as follows: Ale Cipollini (ITA), Bepink Cogeas (ITA), Boels Dolmans Cycling Team (NED), Boompods EDCo (GBR), Canyon Sram Racing (GER), Drops Cycling Team (GBR), Experza-Footlogix (BEL), FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope (FRA), Hitec Products (NOR), Doltcini – Van Eyck Sport (BEL), NJC Biemme Echelon (GBR), NCC Group-Kuota-Torelli (GBR), Parkhotel Valkenburg (NED), Storey Racing (GBR), Team GB (GBR), Team OnForm (GBR), Team Jadan Weldtite (GBR), Team Sunweb (NED), Team WNT (GBR) and Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling (GBR). Full details on the route can be found at http://letouryorkshire.com There are plenty of other ways you can get involved with this year’s Tour de Yorkshire. Roadshows are currently being held across the county which provide information on how to make the most of the race. Dates are being added all the time and details on how to register can be found at http://letouryorkshire.com/information/roadshows Welcome to Yorkshire is also on the hunt for volunteer Tour Makers. These are a passionate and reliable team who will provide a warm welcome to the millions of fans who descend on the county during the four days of action. Being a Tour Maker offers a fantastic opportunity to be part of the race and more information on how to become one can be found at http://letouryorkshire.com/tour-makers Feeling fit? Then why not tackle parts of the 2018 route for yourself by taking part in the Maserati Tour de Yorkshire Ride. The three routes on offer are suitable for all abilities and culminate on the same finish line as the pros. Find out more at https://letouryorkshire.com/maserati-tour-de-yorkshire-ride And last but not least, the Tour de Yorkshire Land Art and Best Dressed Competitions have also been launched. Full details on how to enter those can be found at http://letouryorkshire.com/landart and https://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, Sky Betting & Gaming, Soreen, Mug Shot, RAGT Seeds, Named Sport, Mavic, Global Autocare and Black Sheep. For further information, contact: Nick Howes – Head of Sports Media Email: [email protected] Direct: 0113 322 3505 Mobile: 07590 964 828 .