Work to get the roads ready to host Yorkshire’s Grand Départ next year were given the thumbs up during a flying visit by the Tour de France boss.
Photo: Tour de France Director Christian Prudhomme with Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire Gary Verity and Leader of North Yorkshire County Council John Weighell.
Christian Prudhomme was in Yorkshire today to see how the county is preparing for the biggest annual sporting event in the world. The Grand Départ will see riders race from Leeds to Harrogate on July 5 and then York to Sheffield on July 6, 2014.
More than half of the route will be in North Yorkshire where work is already underway to ensure the roads are race ready. And already 75% of that route in North Yorkshire could stage the race, officials say.
Today saw North Yorkshire County Council officials showcase a stretch of the route in West Tanfield to race director Mr Prudhomme and Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Gary Verity.
Gary said: “It’s terrific to showcase how advanced preparations are for next year here in North Yorkshire. Already 75% of the route in North Yorkshire is ready to stage the race which shows the hard work being carried out by staff who are working flat out to gear up for the world’s biggest race coming to our county.”
John Weighell leader of North Yorkshire County Council said: “It has been estimated that the economic value of the event for Yorkshire is of the order of £100m, a very large proportion of which will benefit the tourism industry – one of the bedrocks of the North Yorkshire economy.”
“Millions of people around the world will see the magnificent landscape of North Yorkshire on their television screens, and the spin-off for our regional economy – not just along the route of the race, but right across North Yorkshire and indeed across Yorkshire as a whole – will be huge.
“The timing of some highways works is being accelerated to accommodate the race, but these were all works which going to be required over the next five years, and they will provide a long-term benefit for the network and for highways users for years to come – in addition to the economic benefits from the Grand Départ.”
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
Result: NCRA Rockingham Raceway Handicap Series
Result: Shrewsbury Sports Village Evening Race 4
Results: Middlesbrough Thursday Night Crit League
Results: Castle Combe Summer Series Week 13
Results: Ciclos Uno Summer Series
Report: Final round of Moreton RR Series
Results: CDNW UCLanSport Circuit Race Series
Results: Stourport Tuesday Circuit Races
Results: Cardiff JIF Summer Crit 2
Results: MKCA Corley Cycles Summer Series
Results: Wolverhampton Wheelers Track League
Result: One and All Cycling Open 10
Report/Results: Royal London 360 Youth League Round 14
Results: Surrey League Dunsfold Park Vets Series #12
Results: Litherland Circuit League
Result: VanillaBikes.com Circuit Race League
Result: Hillingdon Tuesday Night League
Result: CDNW Road Race League
Result: Mallory Park Tuesday League 16
Results: Castle Combe Summer Series
Results: Pembrokeshire Velo Open Weekend
Report: Bournemouth Arrow Track League 12
Report: York Sport Circuit Races
TT Result: Hounslow and District Wheelers 25
Result: Witham St Hugh Road Race
Results: Duncan Murray Wines Road Races
Result: Alan Goddard Memorial Road Race
Results: Prissick Cycle Sunday Races
Report: Fareham Wheelers Road Race
Result: Junior RR Series
Results: Brooks Cycles Track League
Result: ECCA 10 mile TT
Result: Border City Wheelers Open 25
Result: Poole Wheelers 25
Result: Brighton Excelsior Cycling Club 25
Result: CDNW Road Race League – Smithfields
Report: British MTB Titles
TT Result: National 24 Hour Championship
Result: The Bike Factory Circuit of Saighton
Women’s Team Series: Win for Vittoria Bussi
Other News on VeloUK
News: Yorkshire Roads being prepared for the Tour de France
News: T-Shirts to celebrate a Tour Win
Team News: Gilbert, Van Avermaet headline San Sebastian for BMC
Talkingshop: Dean Downing on winning & retirement
News: School Holiday Coaching
News: Junior GB Team for Track Worlds
Preview: Ryedale Grand Prix RRs
Team News: Schlecks to ride for Trek in 2014
Talkingshop: Title 22 for Hannah Barnes
News: Great Weekend for Endura Sponsored Athletes
News: Peter Sagan leads Cannondale in London Ride Classic
Tour News: Pre-Race Expectations Not Met for Team BMC & Cadel Evans
Revolution Track Opens: Tickets on sale next Friday
News: Ceremony for the late Chas Messenger
News: Get your group on at The Tour Ride sportives
News: Team IG Sigma Sport sign Ben Greenwood
First Team Line-ups Revealed for Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic
Preview: Circuit Race Championships
News: Flying Mile’ announced for Tour de Mon 2013
Talkingshop: Mike Northey & Steve Lampier
News: David Bell Memorial Lacking Entries
News: 2nd for Scott Thwaites on 10th stage of Tour of Qinghai Lake
Buyers Guide: Lightweight and Compact Helmets from Endura
Customising Your Bike with the Kapz Guru
News: Summer Offers at Prendas Ciclismo
Team News: Metaltek-Knights of Old
Startsheet: Bath RC Junior Road Race
News: Olympic Champions to Ride with Brad on 11th August
News: Success for British Girls at Euros
Team News: Rapha Condor JLT in Scorching Wales
News: An evening of cycle racing near Plymouth
News: Froome Loses another teammate
News: Olympic champion Steven Burke to race Colne Grand Prix
Preview: GP of Wales
News: Dates for Revolution Track Opens Announced
Startsheets: Ballantyne & Sam Walton Memorial Border Trophy Road Races
News: Bournemouth Twilight Criterium – New Event
News: Gilbert Extends Contract With BMC
News: Rob Jefferies Memorial Track Meeting
Sportive News: Velo29-Altura White Horse Sportive