Organising Committee established to deliver Grand Depart of world’s most famous bike race.
The Government will provide up to £10 million worth of funding to help stage the Yorkshire Grand Depart of the 2014 Tour de France and a third stage from Cambridge to London, Sports Minister Hugh Robertson announced today.
The remaining funding will be provided by local authorities and partners involved in hosting the event including Leeds City Council and Transport for London.
Government funding, that will be channelled through UK Sport, will be used to help maximise the economic benefits of hosting the Grand Depart in this country and help leave a legacy from the event that further strengthens cycling in Britain.
Sports Minister Hugh Robertson said: "The Tour de France is the biggest event in cycling and for this country to host the Grand Depart is a real honour. We want to help deliver a world class event that boosts all local economies where the race will pass through and encourages more people to get involved in cycling. I look forward to working together with all the key stakeholders in achieving this."
A new organising committee, as outlined in Welcome to Yorkshire’s winning Grand Depart bid, will also be established to deliver the two road stages in Yorkshire that begins in Leeds on July 5 2014, and the third stage from Cambridge to London.
The organising committee called TDF 2014 Ltd, will have a board that includes representation from Yorkshire and Cambridge local authorities, as well as British Cycling, Transport for London and UK Sport. The board will be chaired by Sir Rodney Walker, the former chair of UK Sport and will also include Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor Keith Wakefield and Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Gary Verity.
Sir Rodney Walker said: "I am honoured to have been asked to lead the Board, and confident that I will be able to bring together the very best skills in Yorkshire and expertise from across the UK to deliver an excellent event we will all be proud of."
Gary Verity, who led the successful Tour de France Grand Depart bid, said: "Sir Rodney is an ideal person to lead this delivery body, with his extensive experience in business and the world of sport, and his strong relationships across Yorkshire and the rest of the UK. I am looking forward to working closely with him to deliver the very Grandest of Grand Departs."
Councillor Keith Wakefield said: "The Government’s decision to invest in the Grand Depart is very welcome news for all the local authority partners along the Yorkshire route, who have committed financial and other resources to make the race happen. We look forward to continuing to work closely with all parties to ensure a brilliant and memorable event as well as a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy."
UK Sport chief executive Liz Nicholl said: "The Tour de France is an iconic sporting event and UK Sport is committed to playing its part to ensure that the 2014 Grand Depart offers as many people as possible the chance to see the event live and bring significant economic benefit to this country.
"Through our Gold Event Series, hosting major events in this country has become a priority legacy of the London 2012 Games, drawing on the outstanding technical skills, volunteers and enthusiasm from spectators for world-class sport that we have in this country. UK Sport is looking forward to working with all the other key partners to ensure the 2014 Grand Depart is a Tour to remember."