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Thousands flock to Hebden Bridge for the Tour de Yorkshire 2018

by Rebecca Marano

Calderdale crowds went wild for the Tour De Yorkshire this weekend.

Thousands lined the streets of Hebden Bridge to cheer on the cyclists as they took on the steep hills and the infamous Cock Hill.

The race tackled a lot of difficult terrain this year and took on huge climbs like Haworth’s cobbled Main Street and the hilly Yorkshire Dales.

Gareth Vickers from cycling store Blazing Saddles said the landscape and peaks of Calderdale are built for cycling.

Mr Vickers said: “The Tour De Yorkshire does brilliant things for the local area. It really highlights the sport that Yorkshire’s designed around.”

It’s clear that visitors from outside the region agree as people came from across the country.

Max Seabrooke, Alistair Hinde and Garlon Cheung cycled from Manchester to watch the race.

Mr Seabrooke said: “There’s a great vibe here in Yorkshire. It’s good to see all the crowds by the side of the road and to feel the buzz of it.”

Looking up at the steep journey home, Mr Cheung said: “We’ve just come down Crag Vale. We’ve got to get back somehow as well. That could be a bit of fun.”

The race went through Skipton, Pateley Bridge and Otley before it finished in Leeds town centre. The race was over the bank holiday weekend and was four days long. Sunday’s race was the final stage for the men’s race. Belgian Greg van Avermaet won the overall race.

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