What a tremendous spectacle! Cyclists racing through the rain soaked countryside from the start line in Doncaster and through to the finish line near to Selby Abbey. Not one pothole in sight. Roads closed to other road users. No lorries or vans to be seen. Spectators waiting for hours in one spot just to see the riders flash past in a blur.
It gets better. Stage 2 of the race starts in Barnsley today and finishes in Bedale. Where better to have a picnic than at the side of a country lane on a cold and rainy day in the hope of seeing unknown cyclists whizz past? What happens if you want to spend a penny, but have been instructed to remain where you are for at least a couple of hours?
The whole event has been organised by 'Welcome to Yorkshire'. Tell you what, I'm glad they've steered those bikes away from my neck of the woods. Well done to Welcome to Yorkshire!
In an every day conversation would people ever ask, 'Who's just won the first and second stages of the Tour de Yorkshire 2019? What were the winning times for both stages?'
Would those questions ever come up in a pub quiz? Just name the pub and I'll give it a miss.
I watched Look North on the Beeb last night. They were broadcasting live from Bedale, just after the finish of Stage 2 of the Tour de Yorkshire. The Beeb are trying damned hard to make the race look appealing. Some of the locals looked surprised. All this media attention. They had never seen anything like it. When I say locals, it was about one hundred people plus one dog who had obviously been bunched together to give the illusion of a crowd. The Look North presenter even spoke to a dog being held by its owner. Not sure what the Look North presenter expected from the dog.
Welcome to Yorkshire say that towns and villages along the route benefit financially from the race. Not sure that's completely true. One hairdressing business in Harrogate, which was on the race route reported that because of road closures, some of the staff couldn't get into work plus some of the stylists lost up to £600 in earnings just in that one day. Their customers weren't able to get into Harrogate because of road closures.
Meanwhile back to the bike race. I've already contacted BBC Sport. Yes, it's true. I kid you not. I have another life away from football. I've congratulated the Beeb on their success. They've tried, but failed yet again, to sell cycling to the masses. Very few people watch the race. Even fewer talk about the race. I am the exception. Why? Let me tell you, cycling can be flipping dangerous to your health! I've tried it. I know. Cycling along any road or country lane without the advantages of any road closures in place? Being overtaken by a high sided HGV with the ensuing whirlwind to follow? As for Team Ineos. Please don't get me started. Any road up. If you want to know the final result of the race read on. If you've got bored already and overwhelmed by apathy please stop reading.
PS. I nicked the following from the BBC website.
'Chris Lawless became the first Briton to win the men's Tour de Yorkshire with a fine ride on the last stage to Leeds.
Lawless, racing in the blue jersey as the overnight leader, finished right behind stage winner Greg van Avermaet to secure a debut win for Team Ineos.
Wigan's Lawless, 23, was immediately congratulated by team-mate Chris Froome, who orchestrated the decisive final break on Cote de Otley Chevin.
Team Ineos was only officially launched last week, replacing Team Sky.
"I can't believe it," Lawless told ITV 4. "If someone had told me I'd win this race before it started I'd have called them a liar.'
Football's a much better spectator sport.
UTM
-- Edited by wotsisname on Monday 6th of May 2019 10:26:20 PM
