Advertorial blog post for Yorkshire 2019
The UCI Road World Championships are coming to Yorkshire from the 21st to the 29th September 2019, with the blue ribband event, the men’s elite road race departing Leeds Millennium Square on Sunday September 29th at 08.40 and passed Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds University and Headingly, then onto Otley, Ilkley, Addingham and Skipton. If you’re thinking of getting the family out to support the elite men, a detailed race route map is available here
Alternatively, why not make a day of it and head to Harrogate, to soak up the atmosphere in our Fan Zone, which will be open every-day throughout the Championships.
There’s so much for families to do and experience in the Harrogate Fan Zone, especially over the first and second weekend of the Championships. And whatever the age of your kids, there are activities happening to engage and entertain them. The Fan Zone is located on The Stray in the centre of Harrogate and is open throughout the Championships (times below), with family activities and entertainment happening between 10am and 4pm on the first and second weekend.
All timings could be subject to change.
Saturday 21 Sept – 0900 to 2030
Sunday 22 Sept – 0900 to 1830
Monday 23 Sept – 0900 to 1830
Tuesday 24 Sept – 0900 to 1830
Wednesday 25 Sept – 1000 to 1830
Thursday 26 Sept – 1100 to 1830
Friday 27 Sept – 1000 to 2200
Saturday 28 Sept – 1000 to 2200
Sunday 29 Sept – 0800 to 2030
Who and what will be there – The British Army, British Cycling – with cycling focused activity for 4-10yr olds, an HSBC tent – featuring a school’s programme and competitions, an action sports arena, kids’ zone, a big screen, the BBC Bus, Harrogate Borough Council, Welcome to Yorkshire, Harrogate Baths and North Yorkshire County Council. There’ll also be a ‘stretch tent’ if it rains, loads of cycle pop up shops offering advice and cycling experiences, and a whole variety of food and drink outlets, including a bar. Finally, look out for the very collectible commemorative postcards from the spectator engagement volunteers across the championships!
Top Tips for the Fan Zone – Dress for the weather and make sure you have warm and waterproof clothes with you. Keep bag size to under 25L (50 x 40 x 40cm) – bags larger than this will not be permitted to be brought into the Fan Zone. Click here for other Fan Zone restricted items. Allow plenty of time for entry, know where the entrances are and the walking routes from transport hubs. Plan your journey, consider using public transport, know when the last public transport is and book your parking early.
Harrogate Fan Zone Family Entertainment Schedule
Saturday 21st, Sunday 22nd, Saturday 28th, Sunday 29th September
There’s also a full schedule of family entertainment on both weekends. All activities will be open from 10am till 4pm and are suitable from 0-10-year olds and their families (and beyond for those who would like to play). There’s also a small stage area for some pop-up entertainment and shows starting from 11am. Here are just some of the brilliant family activities to get involved in when you come to the Harrogate Fan Zone.
11 am Magic Tom Show
11:30 am Bertie Bear meet and greet
12:00 Animals Intuition Show
12:30 Storm Trouper meet and greet
13:00 Magic Tom Show
13:30 Mad Hatter & Bertie Bear meet and greet
14:00 Animals Intuition Show
14:30 Fairy Enchantica’s sing a long adventure!
15:00 Harry Potter tribute show
15:45 Storm Trouper
Monday 23rd September to Friday 27th September inclusive
From Monday 23rd to Friday 27th the team from Enchantica’s Workshop in Harrogate will be offering FREE classes for everyone to enjoy in the Fan Zone. There will be nourishing craft activities available daily from 10am-4pm plus the following activities available to choose from daily;
· Teen and adult Yoga suitable for all abilities
· Sound therapy sessions
· Baby Mindful sessions
· Baby Beats with Suzie Fairy Enchantica
· Rising Stars Drama and Mindfulness for kids
· Talking Tots
Exact times will be released soon, in the meantime here are the details of each session;
Baby Mindful – Baby Mindful are beautiful classes for parents and their babies, centred around the principles of mindfulness.
Baby Beats – Sing-along adventures for 0-3-year olds and their grown-ups, bringing learning to life for you and your little one.
Rising Stars – Creative journeys for 2-11-year olds focusing on the disciplines of drama and mindfulness.
Talking Tots – Develop communication skills in these fun and interactive classes for 1-5-year olds.
Dragonfly Yoga & Sound Therapy – Mind body and soul Hatha and vinyasa-based yoga classes and sound therapy ceremonies
The Yoga B – This mixed ability, vinyasa class will move you at a steady pace, building up heat, endurance, flexibility, strength and ultimately inner stillness.
UCI 2019 Road World Championships – Races & Race Timings
The Harrogate Circuit – A lot of racing happens on the Harrogate circuit, with some races having to complete multiple laps before finishing on Parliament Street. If you want to experience racing away from the Fan Zone, then the best places head to are the Otley Road, Valley Gardens, Valley Drive and Ripon Road. Check out the bespoke route maps and all the timings here AND, if you want to experience what the riders will experience out on the Harrogate circuit, then ride it in real-time yourself, here
Saturday September 21st – Para Cycling International – For the first time, a UCI-sanctioned international Para-cycling event takes place alongside the UCI Road World Championships, making this a truly inclusive championship. The racing starts in Beverley, Tadcaster and Wetherby with the finishers arriving on Parliament Street in Harrogate from 2pm. Award ceremonies in the Fan Zone will be at 3pm, 4.15pm and 4.45pm.
Sunday September 22nd – Team Time Trial Mixed Relay – In another day of firsts! Yorkshire will be making history by hosting the first ever Team Time Trial Mixed Relay with national teams consisting of three male riders and three female riders. The racing starts at 12.40pm and finishes at 3.55pm. Riders will roll down a custom-built ramp in the heart of the Fan Zone before heading out onto the Harrogate circuit, and finishing on Parliament Street.
Monday September 23rd – Women’s & Men’s Junior Individual Time Trial – The women start racing at 10.10am and will be finished by 11.42pm. The men start at 1.40pm and will be finished by 4.10pm. Once again, Riders will roll down a custom-built ramp in the heart of the Fan Zone before heading out onto the Harrogate circuit, finishing on Parliament Street.
Tuesday September 24th – Men’s U23 and Women’s Elite Individual Time Trial – The men roll out from Ripon from 10.10am onwards, and you can catch the finishers in Parliament Street between 10.46am and 12.29pm. The Elite Women start in Ripon from 2.40pm and will arrive on Parliament Street in Harrogate between 3.19pm and 4.48pm.
Wednesday September 25th – Men’s Elite Individual Time Trial – The men roll out from Northallerton from 1.10pm onwards, and they finish on Parliament Street in Harrogate between 2.12pm and 3.48pm.
Thursday September 26th – Men’s Junior Road Race – The men roll out from Richmond at 12.10pm. When they arrive in Harrogate, just after 2.30pm, they’ll have to complete three laps of the Harrogate circuit before finishing on Parliament Street between 3.30pm and 4pm.
Friday September 27th – Women Junior Road Race & Men U23 Road Race – The women roll out of Doncaster at 8.40am and will arrive on Parliament Street between 11.10am and 11.30am. The men roll out of Doncaster at 2.10pm. When they arrive in Harrogate, around 5.50pm, they’ll have to complete three laps of the Harrogate circuit, before finishing on Parliament Street between 6.50pm and 7.20pm.
Saturday September 28th – Elite Women’s Road Race – The Women’s Elite riders will roll out of Bradford at 11.40am. When they arrive in Harrogate, around 2.40pm, they’ll have to complete three laps of the Harrogate circuit, before finishing on Parliament Street between 3.45pm and 4.15pm.
Sunday September 29th – Elite Men’s Road Race – The Men’s Elite riders will roll out of Leeds at 8.40am. When they arrive in Harrogate, around 2.45pm, they’ll have to complete seven laps of the Harrogate circuit, before finishing on Parliament Street between 3.30pm and 3.50pm.
Best Viewing Points
You’ll get a great of the riders and their support teams as they prepare to roll out of Millennium Square early on Sunday morning. Alternatively, why not head to Woodhouse Moor Park and watch the elite men as they head up Woodhouse Lane or the Otley Old Road by Lawnswood.
In Otley, each of the town’s 24 pubs has ‘adopted’ a different cycling nation. Outside the pub the nation’s flag and bunting is being flown, and the pub name has been translated on a banner into the country’s national language.
Inside the pubs are selling drinks from their ‘twinned’ nation, food and bar snacks. In some there will are national costumes, national music, tourist brochures and travel posters – all designed to make each pub feel like a little bit of that nation in Otley. Also, check out the land art that has been created at Grove Hill Park in Otley, grid reference 53°54’05.6″N 1°42’18.0″W.
Road Closures
Depending on where you live in Leeds and the surrounding areas, you’ll want to be aware of the rolling road closures across the week. Full details and timings for all the UCI 2019 World Championships road closures can be found by downloading our detailed Residents Guide here and road closure maps here
Download the App
Download the official Yorkshire 2019 App to keep up to date with the latest results, race teams and exclusive race tracking. This app will also help you to plan your journey, allow you to hear all the breaking news first and it will keep you up to date with all the amazing events and activities going on in the Fan Zone. The App can be downloaded via the App Store for Apple users or through Google Play on Android, just search “Yorkshire 2019”. You can also follow us on Twitter @yorkshire2019 and @Y2019travel for the latest on the championships and the travel situation in and around Harrogate.
Caravan
For the very first time in the event’s 98-year history, Yorkshire 2019 has organised a publicity ‘Caravan’. This was hugely popular when the Tour de France came to Yorkshire in 2014. This year, the flotilla will travel the full route of the women’s race – departing Bradford, traveling to Harrogate – and the men’s elite race route, departing from Reeth in the Yorkshire Dales National Park to Harrogate.
So far confirmed for the Caravan are Harrogate Spring Water, Global Autocare, Alpecin, Sigma Sports, Welcome to Yorkshire, UK Sports and Leeds Cares. The Caravan will arrive in Harrogate on Saturday 28th September at 13.30 followed by one lap of the circuit and a stop. They will leave the course at 14.00. The Caravan will arrive in Harrogate on Sunday 29th September at 11.41 followed by one lap of the circuit and a stop. They will leave the course at 12.11.
