The Yorkshire Post says that the absence of Gary Verity’s name from the New Year’s Honours List is a “snub” to the man who delivered on his promise of delivering “the Grandest of Grand Départs” for the Tour de France.

Welcome to Yorkshire’s chief executive had the idea of leading a bid to stage the start of the race while shaving one morning, and saw off a rival bid from Scotland that had the support of both British Cycling and the government.

When the annual list of receipients of awards including knighthoods and OBEs was published last week, a number of cycling fans on Twitter from Yorkshire and beyond expressed surprise that his name was missing.

In an editorial, the Yorkshire Post says that “many thought his efforts were worthy of a knighthood,” and describes his absence from the list as “a disappointing omission that will surprise and dismay many in this county who continue to be in awe of his enthusiasm and determination.”

While the newspaper acknowledges that Verity would “be the first to say that he presided over a team effort” – and mentions that Peter Smith of Leeds City Council was awarded an OBE “for services to sports development in Leeds and the Tour de France Grand Départ” – it adds that “such a notable oversight cannot pass without comment or criticism.”

It notes that a number of people associated with Glasgow’s hosting of the Commonwealth Games “are amongst a lengthy list of sports administrators to be celebrated,” adding that “while these recipients are worthy, it still does not excuse the decision to snub Mr Verity – or the team who supported him.”

It adds that Verity’s achievements go well beyond bringing the Tour de France to the region, noting that he “has spent the best part of a decade transforming Yorkshire’s tourism industry into one of this region’s biggest success stories,” and noting that the chairman of VisitScotland received an OBE.

The editorial concluded: “What more does Mr Verity have to do before his efforts are formally recognised by his country?”

He did receive recognition from within cycling circles in Yorkshire, however – last week he was named winner of the 2014 C A Rhodes Memorial by the Yorkshire Cycling Federation.
According to the award trustees: “His vision of bringing the Tour de France Grand Départ to Yorkshire and his drive and determination to lead his team to a successful execution have raised the profile of Yorkshire as a tourist destination, as an area capable of hosting world class events and has massively increased participation in cycling.

With the Tour de Yorkshire set to debut in May, they added: “A legacy has been created for future major international bike races and there has been a huge increase in tourism.”

The award was inaugurated in 1961 in memory of Charles Arthur Rhodes who co-founded the Yorkshire Cycling Federation in 1932.