Yorkshire has been awarded the Grand Départ of the 2014 Tour de France, the first time the North of England has hosted the race. The first two stages will take place in Yorkshire followed by a third in the South of England, finishing in London, before heading across the Channel to France. Full details will be revealed at press conferences to be jointly held in Leeds and Paris on 17 January.
It's the fourth time cycling's biggest race has come to the UK - the last was when London hosted the Grand Depart in 2007 - and the Yorkshire bid saw off a competing one that would have seen the event start in Edinburgh before heading south through England and Wales to the Channel.
The inclusion of that third stage in the South of England within the Yorkshire plans is likely to have been a response to that. Previously, the Yorkshire bid focused on two stages within the county itself, starting in Leeds and also taking in places such as Sheffield, Hull, York and Scarborough as well as some of the region's spectacular scenery.
Leeds will be host the build-up to the race, which will start on 5 July 2014, and Councillor Keith Wakefield, leader of Leeds City Council said: “We are honoured that Leeds has been chosen to be the host city of the 2014 Grand Départ.
"Leeds has a proud racing and riding history so it will be wonderful to welcome the biggest cycle race of them all to the heart of our vibrant city centre, inspire a new generation of Yorkshire cyclists to compete on the world stage and leave a lasting cycling legacy for the city.”
The bid was co-ordinated by Welcome to Yorkshire, which launched a major PR offensive during this year's race, won of course by Bradley WIggins, including putting full-page adverts in L'Equipe.
The agency's chief executive, Gary Verity, said: Today is a proud day for everyone involved in the bid and the county as a whole. We are honoured that the race organisers, the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), have selected Yorkshire to be the host location of the 2014 Grand Départ.
“It will mean less than two years after hosting the Olympics the British public can look forward to another of the world’s biggest sporting events coming to the country, and I am in no doubt they will come to Yorkshire in their millions, lining the length and breadth of the route to cheer on the champions of world cycling and our home grown British heroes.
“Yorkshire is a passionate county of proud people and I am sure they will guarantee that their Grand Départ raises the bar in terms of expectations for all future hosts to come.”
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme commented: “Since the resounding success of the Grand Départ in London in 2007, we were very keen to return to the United Kingdom.
"Bradley Wiggins’ historical victory last July and the enormous crowds that followed the cycling events in the streets of London during the Olympic Games encouraged us to go back earlier than we had initially planned.
"Yorkshire is a region of outstanding beauty, with breathtaking landscapes whose terrains offer both sprinters and attackers the opportunity to express themselves.
"We have encountered a phenomenal desire from the Yorkshire team to welcome the Tour de France and have no doubt that passion and support will be particularly evident for the Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2014.”
That competing Scottish-led bid, unlike the Yorkshire one, had the support of British Cycling. However, the organisation's president, Brian Cookson, welcomed the prospect of the race returning to Great Britain.
"Like every other cycling fan, I am thrillled the world's biggest bike race is coming back to this country," he said.
"The huge numbers who turned out to support the 2007 Grand Depart and the London 2012 road races show the passion we have for cycling.
"I'm sure Yorkshire will give the 2014 Tour de France a welcome which will stand out in the race's rich history."
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Ahhh - poor Scotties - us Terriers got us TdF bid in early and anyway Yorkshire pud trumps yer miserable neeps! - we'll still welcome you in Yorkshire - just remember to bring t'sun screen and plenty of cash to spend !
That is right Deswahriff; the 'youf of today have no idea. It did not do us any harm!
On Ilkely Moor bart.. (sorry)
The Olympic Velodrome that Gkam84 mentioned is having 'work' done on it, so I saw in passing on the TV. Anyone know what sort of 'work'? I could not see the whole of the article but they seemed to be taking it, or part of it down? The last olympic velodrome was cut down and moved to an old Airship hangar at Calshot. Apparently at the time someone suggested that it would make a great bonfire!
I used to DREAM of licking an OXO wrapper! Me and me 20 brothers and 30 sisters would gather round t'family Bisto granule every fifth Christmas and take turns to smell it before heading back down t'pit .
I think someone needs to teach people how to remove previous quotes.....This page is massive with only a few comments
I don't know, I think the velodrome will be staying, is it not to host some more races next year?
Dont think the delay in being able to open it to the public is because of work to the building itself. Its the work around it that's going to mean that it cant open till 2014, because its impossible to create stand-along access to it to stop it being impacted by all the surrounding building work.
True, but it's nice to see Marty Feldman is not forgotten.
Sorry Gkam84 Us amateurs with just a few hundred posts. I will try to get a grip!
That is good news Sam1; I did not realise how lucky I was to have a track a few miles up the road from me. Where I live now the nearest track is 125 miles away. I cannot understand why there is not one in Britol or surrounding areas? There is one planned for Torbay but that is still 85 miles away for me.
As well as the densely populated cities in Yorkshire (Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield) it is close by to Manchester, Newcastle, Sunderland, Nottingham, even Liverpool is only an hour or so away. That's a fair chunk of the population.
But more importantly than the demographics, Yorkshire has some of the most scenic and challenging roads in the country. Just look in the 100 Hill Climbs book and see that Yorkshire gets an entire chapter to itself. Then there is the history to consider - how many ex and current pros come from Yorkshire and how many from Edinburgh? Yorkshire, along with Merseyside, is one of a handful of cycling hotbeds in the country.
I love Scotland and spend many of my holidays in the highlands hillwalking, mountaineering and rockclimbing. But for cycling, Yorkshire is well ahead in my opinion. The only fly in the ointmnet is that London will once again have a stage. Yorkshire could have easily had 4 stages within the county and still misssed out classic roads. Presumably 2014 will have a prologue, aroudn Leeds, leaving only one 'proper' Yorkshire stage so most of the Dales, Moors, Wolds, Pennines and Peak District will miss out entirely.
Clearly the UCI World Tour needs a Dauphine-esque Yorkshire stage-race - wouldn't that be wonderful!? the winner could have a white rose jersey, brass bands at the finish line, Jarvis Cocker and Richard Hawley in place of podium girls...
I'm up for that. Actually, it would probbaly fit in nicely with the UCIs new World series idea ... albeit that the World |Series is a rubbish proposal otherwise!
Absolutely brilliant news, lets hope they go up Sutton Bank as my bro lives at the top.
Commiserations to Scotland though as i believe one of the stages was planned to finish in the toon which is even closer.
We were rich. It was ace.
Can't believe T'Tour is coming to my own back yard!
bye eckers, when i were down't pit,I didnt see daylight for yonks. only my own't finger nails for food. oooooh it were grim ooop nawth i tell thee
Whats a "historical win"?
It means we an be confident it will still be on wikipedia in 10 years times. That is unless Wiggo receives a special gift hamper from the Spanish federation for Christmas.
Oh thanks it should be hysterical
Great news - although I've been up in Scotland this week and the press seemed fairly confident of the tour going to Edinburgh - Sorry guys! please come down and enjoy some Yorkshire hospitality though.
I was watching BBC Look Leeds this evening and they reckon day 1 (July 5th) is going to be Leeds to Scarborough and day 2 (July 6th) is going to be York to Sheffield.
If this is true (which it may not be) that will mean no prologue and a TDF finish twelve miles up the road from me.
Bring it on !
Now I'm even more pee'd off, because on July 5th 1295, The Scottish and France made some sort of pack against England.......
It didn't involve bicycles and the seaside did it ?
Something about agreeing to support each other against attack from England.
We sent them sheep and they gave us wine.....something like that, remembering, its been many years since I did history aged 12
I've already told my wife that I'll be booking a day off work and my kids may skip school. It will be an "educational" trip, of course.
England or Scotland, i'm just glad that the UK was chosen for the Grand Départ. I'm sure the other contenders, Florence, Barcelona and Lille are gutted
Congratulations to Yorkshire, Edinburgh would have been more convenient for me, but perhaps there was a concern about wheels getting caught in the tram lines.
.... then into Glossop and up and down snake pass. THAT I would love
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