Tour de Yorkshire: Publicity caravan hands out freebies and keepsakes

This popular cycling tradition will see some of the county’s best-loved brands travel ahead of the men’s race on Sunday in a spectacular parade of specially decorated vehicles who will excite the crowds by handing out freebies and keepsakes at numerous locations along the route.

This year’s caravan will be a record 30 vehicles long and cycling fans will also be able to meet some of the legends of the sport - our Tour de Yorkshire ambassadors - as they travel behind the cavalcade, greeting fans and posing for photographs.

The ambassadors tour will be compered by one of Britain’s greatest former professional cyclists, Hugh Porter MBE.

Joining Hugh will be Mirfield’s Brian Robinson, the first Briton to win a stage of the Tour de France, Denise Burton-Cole, world-class rider and daughter of the legendary Morley cyclist Beryl Burton, and Barry Hoban, from Wakefield, who won eight stages of the Tour de France between 1967 and 1975.

Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive Sir Gary Verity said: “The publicity caravan is always a fun and light-hearted way to get roadside spectators excited before the riders pass, and this year’s procession is by far the largest we have ever assembled.

“We’ve got some amazing brands taking part, as well as the Consulate of Pakistan and the official Tour de Yorkshire artist Lucy Pittaway, so it’ll be a superb spectacle not to be missed.

“We’re also delighted to welcome our wonderful race ambassadors back and their presence will help make this year’s Tour de Yorkshire one to remember.”

The caravan will stop at Halifax at 10.05am and at Pecket Well at 10.21am.