Minister for Sport visits Yorkshire for Grand Départ update

 

 

Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport and Tourism, visited Yorkshire today to hear how plans for the Grand Départ are progressing and meet key staff that will deliver the start of the world’s most famous cycle race.

 

During his visit, Mr Robertson met members of the TDF 2014 Ltd board, staff from Welcome to Yorkshire and others involved in delivering the event, including representatives from local authorities and the police.

 

The Minister was later joined outside Leeds Town Hall by members of Ilkley Cycle Club - one of the UK’s biggest cycling clubs with over 1,000 members. Ilkley Cycle Club regularly organises rides for its members across parts of the Yorkshire Dales including sections which will make up the Grand Départ route in 2014.
 

Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson said:

 

“The Tour de France is the most famous cycle race in the world and with Yorkshire hosting the Grand Départ next year it is a fantastic opportunity for the county to sell itself to an international audience as a great tourist destination. All the key partners are working hard to make sure we deliver a world class event, encourage even greater participation in cycling and give a boost to businesses across the region.”

 
Chair of the TDF 2014 Ltd Board Sir Rodney Walker said:

 

“I am delighted the Minister has made this trip up to Yorkshire.  It is a great opportunity for him to see first-hand the progress we have made, to meet the team and see how the event is coming together.  We had a very productive meeting this morning and I’m sure he will leave Yorkshire assured that we are primed to deliver a world class event.”
 

Welcome to Yorkshire’s Chief Executive Gary Verity said:

 

“In just over nine months’ time the world’s leading cyclists will be lining up in Leeds for the start of what will undoubtedly be one of the proudest moments in Yorkshire’s sporting history. We expect millions of people to be lining the roadside creating an atmosphere not seen before in the UK. Yorkshire is proud to be playing such a pivotal part in this global sporting event, the county will be ready to welcome the world and to host an unforgettable Grand Départ.”
 

Leeds City Council executive member for leisure and skills Councillor Lucinda Yeadon said:

 

“We were pleased to welcome the Minister to Leeds today to discuss all the preparations and exciting plans which are coming together around the Grand Départ of next year’s Tour de France. All parties are committed to delivering a fantastic and memorable celebration of sport and culture for everyone to enjoy around this amazing event.”

 

The opening two stages for the 2014 Tour de France will be held in Yorkshire on the 5th & 6th July. It will be the first time it has visited the north of England having previously only made visits to the south coast and the capital. The third stage on the 7 July will begin in Cambridge and finish off in London.

 

Today’s visit by the Minister comes when the sport of cycling is on a high in Britain with numbers of people taking up the sport on the rise and recent success at the elite end with Sir Bradley Wiggins winning the Tour of Britain last weekend and Chris Froome crowned the Tour de France champion for 2013 earlier this summer following Wiggins becoming the first Briton to win Le Tour the year before.

 

British Cycling’s Director of Coaching and Education John Mills said:

 

“There is no doubt that cycling is now one of our national sports and the excitement that is building about the world’s biggest bike race coming to Yorkshire next year is being felt across Britain. We want to turn Britain into a nation of people on bikes and the Grand Départ will provide us with a fantastic opportunity to build on the legacy we’ve already kick started from producing countless Olympic and Paralympic champions and two British winners of the Tour de France.”

 

Ilkley Cycling Club Secretary Paul O’Looney said:

 

“Both cyclists and non-cyclists across Yorkshire are so excited to welcome the Grand Départ in 2014. As a local cycling club we are here to support in whatever way we can - before, during and especially afterwards, as the legacy aspects of the Grand Départ will be critical to the growth of cycling in the region.”