THE Tour de Yorkshire trophy went on public display at venues around Ryedale for the first time last week.

Designed and crafted by the Yorkshire company Thomas Fattorini Ltd, the race’s bespoke trophy takes the shape of the letter Y.

It will be presented to the winner of the first-ever Tour de Yorkshire, which takes place from May 1 to 3.

The trophy was taken to Dalby Forest visitor centre, Pickering railway station, Rosedale Coach House, the Moors National Park Centre, at Danby, and Grosmont station as part of its tour of the area.

Robert Dutton, one of the exhibiting artist at the the Moors National Park Centre, give a demonstration of pastel techniques by sketching the trophy, while it was in the gallery.

He said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be supporting the Tour de Yorkshire in my own special and creative way.

“It’s a real honour to be able to draw this magnificent trophy with pastels, a really expressive media, for everyone and capture the energy, vigour and passion the cyclists have for the race.”

At Rosedale Primary School headteacher Nicola Johnson said the visit of the trophy added to the building excitement among the pupils ahead of the race coming through the village on May 1.

“We have begun to decorate the area around the school and have found an old bike for us to paint to hang on the railing,” she said.

“We have sheep in jerseys bouncing around outside and white, yellow and blue stripes on the plant trough.”

Mrs Johnson said that on the day itself the children would be operating a cycle generator to power the Rosedale Illuminations and they also hoped to have a Tour-themed version of a picture board for photographs.

“All the children, including pupils from Nawton Primary, will have the opportunity to decorate a T-shirt on a Tour de Yorkshire theme and we will have other activities available throughout the day,” she said.

“Now they have seen the trophy the children are really getting excited about the event and looking forwards to seeing the race pass through the village.”