Halifax's Piece Hall announces plans for Tour de Yorkshire send-off

A day of cycling celebrations and family fun will take place at The Piece Hall in Halifax to mark the final stage of the Tour de Yorkshire, one of the UK's biggest professional cycling races, which will see the peloton depart from the Grade I listed building on Sunday 6th May.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Apr 2018, 17:04 BST
Updated 18th Apr 2018, 17:11 BST
The Piece Hall, HalifaxThe Piece Hall, Halifax
The Piece Hall, Halifax

The doors will swing open at 9am that morning to cycling buffs who will get the chance to meet the likes of Mark Cavendish as professionals from the cycling world will start to enter the main courtyard from 10am onwards to register at the same podium that is used for the Tour de France.

The riders will roll out at around 12:10pm but will leave behind them a host of activities to continue throughout the afternoon, including a Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries pop up, family workshops and official sponsors and partners of Le Tour. Visitors keen on the cycling itself can keep up with proceedings as the race is played out live on a big screen.

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The Egg Factory will be bringing their mobile screen printing experience with two bespoke bike themed designs for visitors to print a commemorative tote bag or poster, and Circus Fudge, a one-man kaleidoscope of circus, foolish theatre, music and comedy, will be bringing his Very Curious Contrivance to The Piece Hall courtyard.

Joining him for the day of fun is Gary ‘Gecko’ Bridgens, a performance artist who specialises in story-telling and song and Halifax based band Jump, Jive and Wail, bring their unique brand of 1940s and 50s swing jive music to the Halifax hotspot. Queensbury Queens of the Mountains and Orange Bikes will also be joining in the celebrations.

The entertainment and activities are free for all and not ticketed, with the first activities starting at 1:30pm and finishing at 5pm.

Nicky Chance-Thompson, chief executive of The Piece Hall Trust, said:

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“We feel very honoured that The Piece Hall has been chosen as the starting point of Stage Four for something as significant as the Tour de Yorkshire.

"Since its inception in 2015 the Tour has gained a reputation as one of the biggest cycling races in the UK and it feels right that The Piece Hall hosts the event, as we also have attracted recognition nationally as an iconic Yorkshire heritage destination since re-opening last year.

"The Piece Hall and Halifax were once at the centre of the global woollen trade and it is fitting that, once again, they will be showcased on the world stage on such an historic day."

The nail-biting final stage, aptly named The Yorkshire Terrier, will start at The Piece Hall before continuing through Halifax town centre, winding through the Calder Valley and ultimately ending on The Headrow in Leeds.

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