On track to becoming cycling capital of Europe

The comments were made by Peter Dodd, Welcome to Yorkshire’s commercial director, at an event in Aspire in Leeds which was organised by Brewin Dolphin.

It was announced last year that Yorkshire had been successful in its bid to host the opening two stages of next year’s Tour de France in what was heralded as the region’s greatest sporting coup.

The race is expected to attract two million spectators and 2,000 journalists, bringing an estimated £100m boost to the region. The route will set off from Leeds to Harrogate on July 5, before starting in York and finishing in Sheffield the following day.

After delivering his speech, Mr Dodd said the Tour de France’s legacy in Yorkshire would include a host of schemes, such as bike banks and bike libraries, which aimed to ensure that more youngsters in Yorkshire took up cycling.

He added: “We will be working with local councils and charities to deliver that. Cities like Leeds have pledged to double the number of cycle ways into the cities. We’re looking to promote the bike to work schemes more across the county. We’re also looking at bringing more cycling events and bike races to the county.

“This is very much the beginning of the journey. Over the next 10 to 15 years we’re looking to position Yorkshire as the cycling capital of Europe.

“We don’t see the Tour de France as just a one-stop hit. It’s much more about developing things across the whole county.

“Who knows, we’d love the Tour de France to come back here in several years’ time.”