THE COMMEMORATIVE cycling jersey for this year's Tour de Yorkshire has been unveiled.

The short-sleeved garment is dark blue, with detail in yellow-gold, and features the Tour de Yorkshire logo and a distinctive 'Y' pattern.

A large Yorkshire Rose is displayed on the back featuring the names of each host town, too, including Otley, where the women's race and stage two of the men's contest will begin.

The jersey has been produced by cycle clothing company Milltag, which will also be designing the podium jerseys for the winners of the event.

Ed Cowburn, of Milltag, said: "The design has evolved from the 2015 edition, and the greatest difference is the colour.

"A darker blue has been added as a nod to the colours of back-to-back champions – Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

"To celebrate the start and finish towns for each stage, we have created a graphic focussed around a Yorkshire rose that appears subtly on the back of jersey and will feature across the race winners' jerseys, too.

"The 'Y' pattern, inspired by Yorkshire’s textile heritage, also features, as it did last year."

Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive, Sir Gary Verity, said: "The new jersey reflects Yorkshire’s proud sporting heritage and is a superb tribute to this year’s race.

"Each host town is named on the back, and I very much look forward to seeing it being proudly worn by riders across the world."

The jerseys, and other Tour merchandise, are on sale now from the Welcome to Yorkshire website's shop.

Otley will find itself in the spotlight on May 30, when the women's race riders will set off from the town and the men will begin stage two, officially starting to race as they reach Pool-in-Wharfedale.