Event: 12 May 2013
Location: Skipton, North Yorkshire
Preview: Kilo To Go
It’s here! - the brand new Yorkshire sportive challenge from KILOTOGO.
Just like stage one of the 2014 Tour de France, it’s set totally within Yorkshire - with two challenging route options, iconic climbs and picturesque scenery from the first to last pedal-stroke. The routes start and finish in the beautiful Aireville Park in the Yorkshire mill town of Skipton. Be assured, this is no ordinary sportive bike ride – you’ll be criss-crossing the route of the 2014 Tour de France stage 1 route and, to a lesser extent, stage two. We’ve designed routes that show off the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, and take you past some of Yorkshire’s magnificent woollen mill towns.
Yorkshire provides a great testing ground that is similar but different to the Peak District and the Cornish Tors. Similar in that this is definitely a stern test with 2,900m of climbing across the long route. Wiggle Yorkshire Weaver is a beautiful tour around the Dales and Mill towns of North Yorkshire whilst also taking in 4 named climbs to raise the heart rate in more ways than one.
Long route comprises of 90 miles with 2,900m of climbing
Short route comprises of 56 miles with 1,800m of climbing
Whether you opt for the 90 mile or the 56 mile route option you’re in for a treat. Both routes head south out of Aireville Park and follow the valley of the river Aire – Airedale in fact. The good and constant souce of water attracted the development of mills and towns on the banks of the Aire and we pass several of these as we traverse the dale – Skipton, Silsden, Riddlesden and Bingley. The climb over Hawkesworth Moor (the back of the famous Ilkley Moor) takes us out of Airedale and drops us down to Wharfedale and Otley. Crossing the Wharfe via the stone bridge note that ‘good and constant water’ we mentioned earlier.
We leave the wool towns for the time being as the routes take on a different look and feel and we head north up and over Farnley Moor and onto Menweth Hill where you’ll pass the World’s largest electronic listening station. We have a feed station near here too. After the feed, the two route options split – the shorter route heads west and re-joins the long route at Greenhow as riders cross into the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Meanwhile, longer option riders will have crossed Nidderdale and reached the furthest point north on the route at Masham. Then it’s a long tough climb to the highest point on the route (1,400 feet) at High Ash Head Moor. Drop down into Lofthouse and really pretty section of ride along Nidderdale for a second visit. Another feed near Pateley Bridge and more climbing up to the Dales park at Greenhow to re-join with the shorter route option riders.
Gentle descending for all riders into Wharfedale, again, this time at Burnsall. Follow Wharfedale passing the Duke of Devonshire’s Bolton Abbey and it’s plain sailing through Skipton and back to the finish.
KILO TO GO has been running some of the best known sportives since 2007. Unique and contrasting counties across Britain provide the backdrop to our events. New challenges with the reassurance of the same dedicated support team. Which means you can fully focus on the job at hand. That’s why more and more riders only choose KILO TO GO events.
For more information read our event brochure at www.kilotogo.com
