General entries are now open for the 2018 Maserati Tour de Yorkshire Ride sportive. The mass participation event takes place on the morning of Stage 4 of the Tour de Yorkshire and will see 6,000 amateur riders roll out from Woodhouse Moore in Leeds on Sunday 6th May.
The organisers have opened entries now in the expectation of high demand from riders setting their 2018 sportive goals in the first few weeks of the year.
There will be three routes available, taking in some of the roads used on Stage 1 of the 2014 Tour de France.
The longest route will cover 129km and see riders ascending 2059m. The medium is 84km in legth and takes in 1228m of climbing, while the short is 49km but packs in 600m of ascent.
Maserati Tour de Yorkshire Ride sportive
Date: Sunday 6th May 2018
Start: Woodhouse Moore, Leeds
Distances: 129km, 84km, 49km
Entries: letour.yorkshire.com/maserati-tour-de-yorkshire-ride
2017 ride report: A morning of climbs, crowds and spectacular scenery
The 2017 edition of the sportive was a fantastic event, but some riders on the shorter route may have been surprised by just how tough it was when it included all of the toughest climbs from the longest route, which the medium avaoided.
The designers of the 2018 route say that it will 'bringing new meaning to the phrase "up-hill and down dale"'.
A new feature this year, which is something the Sodbury Sportive has been doing for a little while now, are the Strava segment challenges.
These will be closed road sections of Greenhow Hill and Black Hill Lane, and there will be King of the Mountains, Queen of the Mountains and Sprint Jerseys up for grabs.
As the pros race will take in these climbs, the sportivistes can compare how they did again the peloton later in the day.
The 2018 Tour de Yorkshire sportive also has places available with the official charity partners for those wanted to raise money while tasking on the challeneg.
Charities include: Maggie’s, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Jane Tomlinson Appeal, Prostate Cancer UK, Alzheimer’s Society, and Cancer Research UK.
Region Manager Maserati North Europe, Peter Denton, said of the event, which he rode in 2017: 'This is an exceptionally exciting event to be a part of, and we are looking forward to the fourth edition.'
He went on to add that if the route proves too much, there is a silver lining for those in the broom wagon.
'The route certainly presents challenges for the 2018 riders. If it all gets too much, we’ll pick you up in our beautiful Maserati sweep vehicles.'
The event is organised by Human Race Events. Nick Rusling, the CEO, added his thoughts: 'We say it every year, but the route this year is exceptionally tough – Yorkshire never fails.
'Cyclists will be tackling the same brutal climbs as the pros, and it’ll be made worthwhile when they cross the same finish line with the same roaring crowds.
'There’s no other UK sportive quite like it.'
Maserati Tour de Yorkshire Ride: Routes
Long: 129km/2059m
Medium: 84km/1228m
Short: 49km/600m
