BEDALE will make its debut as a host location in the Tour de Yorkshire when the race returns next year, organisers have revealed.

The eight locations for the 2019 race have been unveiled by race organisers at a press conference in Leeds this morning, and will also include Barnsley, Bridlington, Doncaster, Halifax, Leeds, Scarborough and Selby.

It was also announced this morning that Redcar has been selected as a host location in 2020, and the 2019 route will include the circuit in Harrogate which will be used in the 2019 UCI Road World Championships.

The 2019 Tour de Yorkshire will take place between May 2 and 5 and the event has been upgraded to HC status by cycling’s world governing body – the highest category possible for a multi-day race outside of the UCI World Tour.

Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “It is always exciting to unveil the host times for the Tour de Yorkshire and this year is no exception.

“We are thrilled that Bedale will be making its debut as the town gave the riders an amazing reception when they passed through earlier this year, and I am sure Redcar will also excel in 2020.

“The other locations have already proven themselves as more than worthy recipients and we cannot wait to return.

“The full route will be announced in December but we felt it was important to confirm the inclusion of the Harrogate circuit as the sport’s best riders are already planning their trips to the 2019 UCI Road World Championships and the Tour de Yorkshire will be their only chance to get to sample that circuit under race conditions before then.”

Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France at the Amaury Sport Organisation, added: “The Tour de Yorkshire is a true success story and in just four years it has grown to become one of the best attended and most dramatic races on the cycling calendar.

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with such a great team at Welcome to Yorkshire and I know our eight start and finish locations will put on a great show in 2019.”

The Tour de Yorkshire was launched in 2015. This year’s race was watched by 12.5 million people on television across 190 countries, and generated £98m for the Yorkshire economy.