Tour chiefs vow to put on show that will stun world

Cycling fans can now start making plans for where they will be able to watch the Grand Départ, from its ceremonial start outside Leeds Town Hall to its sprint finish in Sheffield the next day.

The overall route for the Tour’s 21 stages was yesterday announced to the world by hosts the Amaury Sport Organisation during a ceremony in Paris, where the race will finish on July 27.

Welcome to Yorkshire, which organised the region’s successful bid for the Grand Départ, immediately published details of the precise routes for the two days of racing in Yorkshire, which will include the tough 4.7km climb up Holme Moss.

During a presentation delivered in French to nearly 5,000 guests at the globally televised press conference, chief executive Gary Verity said it was “the county’s moment to shine, to stand up and to be seen”.

“This is an opportunity to show the world why we have been chosen for le Grand Départ and why Yorkshire should never be forgotten,” he added.

“The day the riders of the Tour de France line up in Leeds will be a landmark in the history of our area. It will rank alongside some of Yorkshire’s greatest achievements.”

The 101st Tour de France will start in Leeds on July 5 and feature two stages in Yorkshire as well as a Cambridge to London third stage before transferring across the Channel. Huge crowds are expected to gather to watch the world’s leading cyclists race through the region’s cities and towns, the Yorkshire Dales and the Peak District over two days.

Leeds City Council leader Keith Wakefield, who travelled to Paris as part of a Yorkshire delegation, said anticipation was rising by the day for what would be the region’s “biggest event in living memory”.

He added: “This is an unrivalled opportunity not only to raise the profile of Leeds and Yorkshire to new heights, but also to inspire people of all ages to get on bikes and create a lasting legacy that is fitting for such a sporting phenomenon.”

Mark Goldstone, of Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, urged local business to think about how the arrival of the Tour could benefit them. “Businesses I speak to are increasingly excited and can’t wait. There is a real buzz in the air and we are looking forward to it,” he said.

View the route in detail

• Stage 1 - Leeds to Harrogate, Saturday July 5

• Stage 2 - York to Sheffield, Sunday July 6