Cycle Yorkshire - From Road Racing Pioneers to the Ultimate Grand Depart and Beyond (Hardcover)

The Tour de France Grand Depart of 2014 shone a light on Yorkshire as a world class cycling destination. But the triumph that was Le Tour was in many ways the latest encounter in a unique long distance love affair between the White Rose and the most challenging race on the planet. From the culture shock that working class Yorkshiremen experienced cycling alongside the continental greats of the 1950s and 60s to the golden triumphs of post-Millennial Olympic success, Cycle Yorkshire tells the region's cycling story through the eyes of the riders themselves. It delves into how the pit villages, steelworks, glorious landscapes and riding routes of Yorkshire have played their part in pioneering and sustaining British cycling at home and abroad. And it explores the stories of bravery, passion and heartbreak behind legends like Brian Robinson, Barry Hoban, Tom Simpson and Beryl Burton and the successes of modern day greats like Malcolm Elliott, Ed Clancy and Lizzie Deignan, while looking at what the future might hold for the sport in God's Own Country with its first Road World Championships on the horizon in 2019. There are exclusive interviews, first person musings from the centre of the action and informed guides on the region's best cycling climbs and top training routes along the way. It's the ultimate account of Yorkshire's cycling story.