Tour de France sets sail for UK as race director Christian Prudhomme arrives in Yorkshire

Containers boasting official Tour cars, cycling team trucks and a support convoy of around 60 motorcyclists, including 35 French gendarmes who will escort the leading riders during the race, are beginning to filter into the Port of Hull.

The East Yorkshire gateway port is expecting thousands of Tour spectators to arrive in the county from ferries departing from Rotterdam and Zeebrugge over the coming days – something the area is hoping will boost wider Yorkshire as signs erected by the Bondholders marketing group aim to highlight Hull as City of Culture 2017.

And today Olympic champion Chris Boardman backs a bid to create a lasting cycling legacy from the event, using Leeds as a model.

Boardman has joined forces with British Cycling to call on the Government to commit £10 per person per year from existing transport funds to kick-start a cycling revolution.

They have teamed up with the Leeds Council to produce a “vision” for The Headrow, where riders will line up for the start of Stage One on Saturday, of what the thoroughfare could look like in the future if it was re-modelled to accommodate cyclists every day. The plan includes the proposed introduction of a 20mph speed limit, a boulevard design with wide open spaces; closure of the road to private cars; the widening of footways and low kerbs for easy wheelchair and cycle access.

Boardman said: “This would be a true legacy from Britain hosting the Tour. Inspiring people to get on bikes is one thing but the fact is that cycling has been designed out of our towns and cities and we urgently need to put this right.”

The cycling legend is set to attend the first-ever Leeds Schools Cycling Challenge at Temple Newsam Park, alongside race director Christian Prudhomme, who landed at Leeds Bradford International Airport last night.

Mr Prudhomme was “delighted” that the band of The Yorkshire Regiment played La Marseillaise as he arrived at Leeds Bradford, saying it was the first time he had known a host city to bestow that honour.

He told The Yorkshire Post: “I am happy because I have seen the smiles on the faces of the people. It is fantastic and there are so many bicycles everywhere.”

The director has a number of engagements to attend ahead of the action this weekend. Gary Verity, chief executive of tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “Hull’s warm welcome will provide the first impression of Yorkshire for many travelling fans, so this initiative is fantastic for not only the Grand Départ but as we look ahead to next 
year and build towards 2017 too.”

Meanwhile, preparations in the Tour host towns, cities and villages are well underway. Around three million people are expected to visit the county to witness the world’s greatest cyclists ride from Leeds to Harrogate via the Yorkshire Dales on Saturday, and the York to Sheffield stage two on Sunday.

Among those getting in the spirit of the race, a peloton of elderly service users from Leeds-based groups Holt Park Active and Holbeck Elderly Aid have knitted special yellow jerseys on City Square statues including Edward The Black Prince.