The course was shortened at the eleventh hour. The original route amounted to 285 kilometres and the first 185 kilometres would have mimicked the Tour de France Grand Départ stage from 2014. This section has been shortened to 76.9 kilometres, while two local laps in Harrogate have been added.
The riders click into their pedals in Leeds city centre before the official start will be given at Cookridge after a neutralised zone of 10.5 kilometres. The riders head north through the Dales and are due to reach Kettlewell before the first uphill appears. The Cray is perfect to stretch the legs as the hill is 6.6 kilometres long and the average gradient sits at 1.3%.
The men arrive in Harrogate after 76.9 kilometres in the saddle to tackle a testing 14 kilometres circuit nine times. The first uphill is on Otley Road, which climbs in 1.6 kilometres at 3.4%. The road continues on a long straight before a fairly tight right-hander leads onto Pot Bank. Via a couple of downhill twists and turns the route crosses the Oak Beck stream to return to climbing.
This scenario repeats itself on Penny Pot Lane, although this uphill is much steeper. The route descends to the Oak Beck stream again before heading up the other side. Quite steep at first, the riders clamber out of the small valley. Not hard in the first round, nor in the second, but it will certainly do damage in the finale of the 284.5 kilometres race.
After the Penny Pot Lane ramp the route continues back to Harrogate.
The race is expected to finish on Harrogate’s Parliament Street around 15.20 local time (BST).
Other interesting reads:
– live report
– favourites
– start list
World Cycling Championships 2019 Yorkshire – men: route, profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom
