Tour de Yorkshire fever set to bring '˜busk stops' to market town near Leeds

The market town will host a vibrant range of entertainers at special ‘busk stops’ across the town centre on the Saturday April 30 race day.

Otley will host the start of stage two of the men’s race as well as the Asda Women’s Tour de Yorkshire featuring homegrown cycling superstar Lizzie Armitstead.

The day of cycling will see both men and women take on a 135km route from Otley through Bardsey, east Leeds, Pontefract, South Elmsall, Conisbrough and Dawtry to the Doncaster finish line.

Stage one, the day prior, will see the men cycle from Beverley to Settle and the same group will also ride from Middlesbrough to Scarborough on May 1.

Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “The events in start and finish towns are being delivered by local communities and will give crowds a taste of what to expect during the Yorkshire Festival which is taking place between June 16 and July 3.”

For further information on the Tour de Yorkshire, which is now just four weeks away, visit letouryorkshire.com.