From this coming 29 April – 1 May, sprinters like Caleb Ewan will take centre stage on the Tour de Yorkshire. But they could also be relegated to the wings on the final rolling stage, on which Nordhaugh, Barguil or A.Yates are capable of coming through for the win. For the Ladies, the world champion Lizzie Armitstead seems to be the favourite as the ASDA Tour de Yokshire Women’s Race will start from Otley, her hometown, on April 30th, to reach Doncaster on the very same route as the second stage of the Men race. 

The routes of Yorkshire, which were first used on the 2014 Tour de France, continued to add a whiff of mystery to their personality in the maiden edition of the Tour de Yorkshire in 2015. The course is punctuated with more less steep ramps, which are ideal for possible attacks to take place, while at the same time, the sprinters can also drop the hammer on stages one and two this year. Defending race-winner Lars-Peter Nordhaug made the most of the rollers on day one last year, but he will have to demonstrate a certain level of patience for the eventual elevations changes. When the time comes to attack, he could very well be joined by Thomas Voeckler, who joined him last year on the podium (3rd), unless his young team mate Lilian Calmejane eventually carries the hopes of the Direct Energie team. Several explosive climbers could also surge on the up-hill Scarborough road, like Warren Barguil, Jurgen Van den Broeck, Ben Hermans, Adam Yates and Stephen Cummings, who saw an opportunity in Mende and seized it last July.

Road captain of his own team and the first English winner of the Tour de France, Bradley Wiggins will make a rare race appearance, but Britain’s other chances might lie with Peter Kennaugh or Ben Swift. Before the contenders for the overall podium make themselves known, the first two finishes will be settled between some top-class sprinters. The discipline’s big hope for the future, Caleb Ewan, who will certainly be helped by Paris-Roubaix winner Mathew Hayman, will have to prove himself against the likes of fellow Australian Matt Goss, or Nikias Arndt.

Unless the many English (8 British teams, 18 riders) brought up on the velodrome, like Owain Doull and Andrew Tenant, use their top-speed to find their place in British cycling folklore.

18 teams, the leading riders

Australia

Orica GreenEdge: A.Yates (GBR), Ewan, Hayman (AUS), Mezgec (SVN)

Belgium

Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise: Van Hoecke (BEL)

France

Cofidis, Solutions Crédits: Edet, Rosetto, Simon (FRA)

Direct Energie: Voeckler, Calmejane, Nauleau (FRA)

Germany

Team Giant-Alpecin: Barguil (FRA), Arndt (GER)

Great Britain

Team Sky: Kennaugh, Swift (GBR), Nordhaug (NOR)

Team Wiggins: Wiggins, Doull, Tennant (GBR)

Team Raleigh GAC: Kneisky (FRA), Mora, Torres (SPA)

NFTO: Edmondson, Bibby (GBR)

One Pro Cycling: Goss (AUS)

JLT Condor: Downing (GBR)

Madison Genesis: Gunman (NZL), Rowsell (GBR)

National Team: Cullaigh (GBR)

Netherlands

Team Lotto NL-Jumbo: Kruijswijk (NL), Wynants (BEL)

Roompot Oranje Peloton: linenup not available

Russia

Team Katusha: Van den Broeck (BEL), Byström (NOR), Politt (GER)

South Africa

Team Dimension Data: Cummings (GBR), Eisel (AUT), J.Janse van Rensburg (RSA)

United States

BMC Racing Team: Dennis (AUS), Hermans (BEL)