Craven District Council is launching a best dressed window competition to celebrate the Tour de Yorkshire race start in Skipton on May 1. 

Businesses in the town are being invited to rise to the challenge and help put Skipton in the running for Welcome to Yorkshire’s Best Dressed Host Location competition.

Councillor Richard Foster, Leader of Craven District Council, said: “When the Tour de Yorkshire race sets off from Skipton on Friday May 1, the eyes of millions will be on the town. We want to make it as memorable as possible. 

“Craven District Council is working with Skipton BID to decorate the High Street and surrounding streets with flags and banners, and we will be producing some land art in Aireville Park.

“We hope Skipton businesses will do the town proud and create some really eye-catching decorations to help us welcome the world’s best cyclists to the district.”

Geraldine Thompson, Skipton BID Manager said: "So exciting that Skipton is hosting the start of the Tour de Yorkshire; we've enjoyed this high profile event passing through Skipton each May Bank Holiday, and welcome the enhanced exposure the start will bring to our town."

A spokesperson for the Skipton Chamber of Trade & Commerce said: “A wide variety of creative, stylish window displays in the town boost business all year round and this initiative for the Tour de Yorkshire will further strengthen Skipton’s strong reputation as a fantastic place to do business and run events.

“Previous window dressing competitions in the town have resulted in some exciting displays, particularly from our independent shops, showcasing the range of products and services we can access in Skipton. We look forward to seeing the entries and wish all the participants luck in the competition.”

Any business in Skipton is welcome to enter the competition; all they have to do is decorate their window and email comms@cravendc.gov.uk

The deadline for entries is Friday April 17. The entries will be considered by an independent judging panel before the winners are announced in April.

Skipton will host the start of Stage Two men’s race and Stage One of the women’s race in this year’s Tour de Yorkshire on Friday May 1.

The Three Peaks Stage will cover 124.5km from Skipton to Leyburn. The world’s top female riders will start in the morning with the men following in the afternoon.

The route takes in huge swathes of the Yorkshire Dales National Park with sprint sections in Settle and Horton in Ribblesdale, then past the Yorkshire Three Peaks and Ribblehead Viaduct.

For more information about the Tour de Yorkshire 2020 in Craven, go to www.cravendc.gov.uk/tdy2020