The highly anticipated Ilkley Cycle Races will return on 3rd July, bringing elite cycling, high-energy racing, and a town-wide hospitality experience designed to showcase the very best of Ilkley’s independent food and drink scene.
The event is organised by the Ilkley Cycling Club in partnership with British Cycling, continuing a long-standing collaboration aimed at developing grassroots racing while delivering a major community spectacle in the heart of the town.
This year’s event will see Ilkley transformed into a multi-site food and drink festival, with independent operators positioned along the race route to create immersive viewing points and social hubs. All traders will open from 5:00pm, with racing commencing at 5:30pm with the MAS Design Youth Races, marking the start of an evening packed with competitive action and vibrant spectator experiences across multiple locations.
At the centre of the course, Bini Brew Co will operate three separate bars: one at Canker Wells, a second at the iconic Ilkley Bandstand, and a third “secret bar” located at the top of the main climb, offering a unique elevated viewing experience overlooking the race action.
Canker Wells will become a high-energy street food destination, featuring Oregan's Irish Spice Bags and Like In Naples Pizza trading alongside the bar, creating a lively hub throughout the evening.
The Bandstand will host a premium spectator zone combining food, drink, and atmosphere. La Stazione will serve Aperol Spritz throughout the evening, while Lishmans returns with its renowned barbecue, providing a central gathering point with direct views of the racing circuit.
Grove Gardens will offer a more relaxed, family-friendly setting, with a pop-up bar from Martinez joined by artisan coffee from Bloom Coffee and street food from Loaf & Loaded, creating a social space designed for spectators to unwind between races.
Speaking ahead of the event, Event Manager Tom Harris said the 2026 edition represents a major step forward in the integration of sport and community atmosphere:
“The Ilkley Cycle Races have always been about more than just racing. Working with Ilkley Cycling Club and British Cycling, we’ve been able to build an event that brings the whole town together. This year’s hospitality line-up is the strongest we’ve ever had, and it really reflects the incredible independent businesses we’re lucky to have in Ilkley. From the first youth race at 5:30pm through to the final finish, we want every corner of the course to feel alive with energy, atmosphere, and community spirit.”
With elite youth competition kicking off the evening and a carefully curated hospitality offering running in parallel, organisers expect thousands of spectators to line the streets and gathering points throughout Ilkley. The combination of competitive cycling, independent food and drink, and community-led organisation continues to position the Ilkley Cycle Races as one of the standout summer events in the regional sporting calendar.
The line up of races for the evening is:
- 5:30 pm MAS Design Youth Race - Spotlighting the next generation of champions.
- 6:00 pm Andy's Man Club Men's Classic – Competitive racing for seasoned cyclists aged 40+.
- 6:35 pm Bini Brew Men's Classic – A fast, fiercely contested race for category 2,3,4 racers.
- 7:40 pm Milly Grace Women’s Grand Prix – One of the premier women’s criteriums in the UK.
- 8:40 pm Lister Horsfall Men's Grand Prix – A high-speed, high-stakes showdown for elite racers.
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