Bedale is ready and waiting for the arrival today of the Tour de Yorkshire.
- How Bedale is celebrating the Tour de Yorkshire
- Tour de Yorkshire publicity caravan timings
- Wensleydale Railway runs Tour de Yorkshire park and ride
- See bottom of article for race timings
The town will host the finish of the second the finish of stage one of the women’s race and stage two of the men’s race.
Shops and businesses throughout the town have been decorated in preparation for the visit of the bike rice.
Several pieces of landart have also been created to ensure the town is remembered by viewers around the world.
Now we are ready! pic.twitter.com/Xkr4JTNtN0
— Bedale (@OfficialBedale) May 2, 2019
One piece of artwork at Exelby Bridge, organised by artist Mackenzie Thorpe’s Arthaus gallery in Richmond, is raising awareness for the Tour de Yorkshire’s official charity, Help for Heroes.
It depicts one of Mackenzie Thorpe’s recognisable hearts spread across a field, with the number seven at its centre. The number represents the seven individuals who every day are medically discharged from the Armed Forces and raises awareness of the issues facing veterans and their families.
The land art creation is made up entirely of new and old trainers donated by students, parents and staff from Bedale High School, local primary schools and also community donations which were dropped off at collection points at RAF Leeming and the Co-op store in Bedale.
Happy #TDYeve !! So excited that it’s almost race day… here’s my third instalment of what you can expect in #Bedale WHEN you come to watch the race here on Friday … pic.twitter.com/yNAf0rXgUZ
— Kayleigh Catford (@KayleighRamsey) May 1, 2019
Mackenzie and his team have been working with Bedale High School students and their art teacher, Sarah Allsop to create the land art, which is situated in a field close to the school on Exelby Road. The use of the field was donated by a local farmer.
This week, Bedale High School students were involved in laying the land art heart with the donated trainers alongside Mackenzie Thorpe, primary school pupils, military personnel and Help for Heroes representatives, they were also joined by staff and residents from The Millings Care Home in Bedale, who came to support the project and see the artwork being put together.
Mackenzie Thorpe, the official artist for this year’s Tour de Yorkshire, said: “This is essentially to get the next generation of young people involved in art and to work with a real artist, passing down ideas and breaking down barriers. What we’re doing is creating something together.
“They started creating this in a school building, when they started putting shoes down, then moving back and looking at them and walking back to them.
“It felt like leaving flowers and it was very poignant and intense, it became very real.”
Tom Kelly, Bedale High School’s headteacher said the school will be closed on Friday, May 3, to enable the students to take part in the community celebrations taking part in Bedale.
It is hoped that the Tour de Yorkshire would inspire further fundraising for the school’s upcoming Coast to Coast cycle ride when volunteer staff, students, parents and members of the local community will be cycling from Arnside to Scarborough, approximately 150 miles over three days to raise money for the children’s cancer charity Candlelighters.
Other North Yorkshire County Council schools have also been hard at work creating their own pieces of land art, which should be seen from the helicopters recording the aerial footage of the race as it happens.
Bedale Primary School pupils have been working closely with Bedale Golf Club to produce land art using golf equipment and recycled school uniform.
The school has collected old uniforms in blue and yellow which will be used to make some of the art work, which will depict a bicycle tyre, the Bedale Cross, while golf balls will be used to create other designs.
Mowbray School in Bedale will be putting together its own giant art work on the main playing field next to the school, while staff will be in the main town later in the day, helping spectators welcome the Tour de Yorkshire by signing phrases in Makaton sign language.
North Yorkshire County Councillor Patrick Mulligan, executive member for education and skills, said: “Young people across the county have been wholeheartedly getting involved in community events for the Tour de Yorkshire. The creativity, hard work and enthusiasm of pupils and teaching staff is evident to see across the county as it celebrates the race and is an important part of the celebrations.”
Getting parked in Bedale:
Parking for visitors is at DL8 1EZ, opposite Bedale Golf Club; DL8 1HA at BASA; DL8 1RF Bedale Caravan & Camping Park; DL8 2EQ Bedale High School; all are asking for donations towards different charities.
There is parking for blue badge holders behind Spice at DL8 2AD.
Friday’s race timings:
The women kick off their race in Church Street in Barnsley on Friday morning at 9.05am.
They head north towards Pontefract and their first intermediate sprint at 9.45am.
Heading into North Yorkshire, they will take on their first climb at the Côte de Lindley at 10.58am before completing a circuit of Harrogate and their second sprint at around 11.21am.
The riders continue going north, heading through Ripon at 11.54am before an expected finish in Bedale at 12.33am.
The men follow the earlier women’s race along much the same route – setting off in Barnsley at 2.45pm and hitting their first sprint at Pontefract at 4.21pm.
They will take on the Côte de Lindley climb at 4.25pm before the circuit of Harrogate and second sprint at 4.45pm.
Stage Two riders will then go through Ripon at 5.13pm before a big finish in Bedale at 5.47pm.
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