LEEDS, UK - Yorkshire will make a formal bid to host the Grand Depart of the Tour de France in 2016. The bid will consist of two days racing in Leeds, Scarborough, York, Hull, Sheffield and the Yorkshire Dales.
The Tour last visited Britain in 2007 with a prologue in central London followed by a day of racing in Kent. Organisers were impressed by the huge crowds who watched the event although the Tour's cyclists complained it was so popular there was nowhere for them to stop for a comfort break along the way.
Yorkshire is competing against Barcelona, Venice, Berlin and Scotland, all of whom have said they will be submitting bids to host the Grand Depart in 2016. Organisers from ASO, the group that runs the Tour de France, will visit Yorkshire in May to make an initial assessment of potential routes.
A spokesman for Welcome to Yorkshire, who are behind the bid, said: "The Tour de France is the world's largest annual sporting event, watched by 88 million people around the world. Hosting the race in Yorkshire will provide a multi-million pound boost to the economy and showcase Yorkshire globally.
British cyclists Mark Cavendish and Ben Swift have backed the bid and Welcome to Yorkshire are now asking anyone who supports the bid to sign up to Back Le Bid.
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