Cyclists set for Tour de France anniversary ride

Cyclists on a road in YorkshireImage source, Leeds City Council
Image caption,

The ride will start in Leeds and run into the heart of the Yorkshire Dales

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Amateur cyclists from across Yorkshire are set to take part in a ride celebrating 10 years since the Tour de France came to the county.

More than 500 people have signed up to the Legacy Ride, which takes place on Sunday.

The ride will start at Roundhay Park in Leeds and run into the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, taking in a number of the region's beauty spots along the way.

Money raised from the event will go towards causes connected to Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

An estimated 2.5m people lined Yorkshire's streets to watch the Tour de France when the opening stages of the race were held in the region in 2014.

About 230,000 people crammed into Leeds city centre alone for the Grand Départ.

Image source, Tom Airey
Image caption,

An estimated 230,000 people came to Leeds city centre for the Grand Départ in 2014

Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council's deputy leader, said: "It’s hard to believe that 10 years have passed since the Tour de France Grand Départ came to Leeds and Yorkshire.

"That unforgettable weekend was a magical moment in time for city and county alike, so I’m delighted that we have the opportunity to celebrate its anniversary in style."

Those taking part in the Legacy Ride have the choice of three routes totalling a distance of 230km, 120km or 70km.

They all start and finish in Roundhay Park in Leeds, with routes taking in spots including Buttertubs Pass in Richmondshire, Bolton Abbey, near Skipton, and Askwith Moor, near Otley.

Money generated from the event will go towards the MND Association, along with a Leeds Hospitals Charity appeal to create a Rob Burrow Centre for MND.

The funeral of Burrow, the rugby league legend and MND awareness campaigner, also takes place on Sunday in Pontefract.

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