in 2014, the town had its biggest cycling moment to date when the tour de france passed through. the route approached the town on the a65 from otley and passed through the town centre along the a65. as a direct consequence of the success of the tour de france its organisers, aso, established the tour de yorkshire. ilkley features in stage 3 of the inaugural tour, with the race set to enter from the west along the a65, before turning to climb up past the cow and calf.