Yorkshire to host 2014 TDF start

[ColinJ]

You had better get a ride organized colin

It's a nice idea to ride over to watch the first stage but there will be an awful lot of traffic and a lot of closed roads. When I went to watch the Kelloggs Tour go over Holme Moss, the roads were clogged solid all around so my mate parked his car and we ran 2 miles to Holme village, getting there just as Sean Yates and Robert Millar were riding past!

I think a better alternative would be a commemorative TdF stage CycleChat forum ride the following weekend. None of this 'Étape du Tour' nonsense - 'Stage of t' Tour'! It would be the longest and hardest of my forum rides ever, so we had better get into training now!

 

[gavroche]

I wonder if the riders will get a chance to drink the world famous, home grown Yorkshire tea?

 

[Christopher]

Send 'em north from Leeds - over Buttertubs and south over Fleet Moss. The latter would be fantasic as you can see all the north part of the climb at once and there's plenty of parking on the top. Going north they could do Park Rash as a warm-up! Well they are pros after all.

@ Colin: Having done a few of these climbs I have had some scary moments on the descents as you fly onto bad tarmac - had a near miss descending Buttertubs to the south. It would have been a fearsome stack as I was going fairly quick. And topping out you think: this is bleak! What I am doing up here?

edit: Article liked to in OP's post has a beautiful picture of the Buttertubs: the Northern Pennines at their bleak, beautiful best.

 

[ColinJ]

@ Colin: Having done a few of these climbs I have had some scary moments on the descents as you fly onto bad tarmac - had a near miss descending Buttertubs to the south. It would have been a fearsome stack as I was going fairly quick.

I got 'big air' on the descent of Fleet Moss towards Hawes, where the road abruptly ramps down at about 25%! I managed to stay on the bike but someone else was not so lucky and ended up in hospital ...

Some of the North Yorkshire roads which are great for cycling in small groups might not really be suitable for the full Tour experience!

 

[7onagrifter]

Happy to be a newbie here with a 1st post but I wonder how happy BW will be in "God`s Country" under the White Rose`s
Fantastic news for all of us Tho!

 

[400bhp]

It's a nice idea to ride over to watch the first stage but there will be an awful lot of traffic and a lot of closed roads. When I went to watch the Kelloggs Tour go over Holme Moss, the roads were clogged solid all around so my mate parked his car and we ran 2 miles to Holme village, getting there just as Sean Yates and Robert Millar were riding past!

I think a better alternative would be a commemorative TdF stage CycleChat forum ride the following weekend. None of this 'Étape du Tour' nonsense - 'Stage of t' Tour'! It would be the longest and hardest of my forum rides ever, so we had better get into training now!

Isn't it Sunday likely to be Leeds out then south to Laahdan (init). So misses out any proper hilly stuff.

Sat is prologue day so Leeds city centre.

 

[Get In The Van]

Bahhhhhh! was hoping for Edinburgh as its just down the road or should that be t'road!
Looking at heading down to Leeds or wherever the tour prologue will be, although said to the mrs that a trip to France to watch a stage or 2 could be on and she was up for that.
Result!

 

[Nearly there]

First thing my wife said to me when I got out of bed from doing my night shift was "We are going to Yorkshire in 2014"Having not woken up properly I asked why she said Tdf is coming

 

[oldfatfool]

It's a nice idea to ride over to watch the first stage but there will be an awful lot of traffic and a lot of closed roads.

It will certainly be interesting to see how it is policed, no doubt with an extremely heavy hand and lots of threats. Unfortunately I doubt it will be like France where despite having big guns the rozzers let cyclist ride along the route anything upto 10 mins before the leaders are due (inbetween the caravan and the race) or indeed to follow the route 5 mins after the last rider as passed.

 

[ColinJ]

Isn't it Sunday likely to be Leeds out then south to Laahdan (init). So misses out any proper hilly stuff.

Sat is prologue day so Leeds city centre.

You could well be right!

I was forgetting that stages don't tend to end up back where they started from. A forum ride from Leeds to 100+ miles south and then back again might be a bit too much! Leeds-Dales-Leeds would be fab, as would Leeds-N.York.Moors-Leeds.

I reckon they will do a challenging stage ending in either Leeds or Sheffield and then catch a fast train to London for day 3.

 

[johnr]

Official jersey of t'Tour

 

[laurence]

I'm trying to think of a famous cyclist from Leeds. Oh, hang on, Jimmy Saville


Seriously though, well done to everyone involved but note that I won't be available to help host the opening ceremony again. Once was enough for me.

spookily, i was talking about you hosting the presentation today, completely unaware of this news.

that's the 2014 holiday sorted then.

 

[Chrisc]

Nice to see a southern stage included to give them a recovery day from the real riding up here. :-)

 

[oldroadman]

Last time the TdF was in England, there was a local organisation partner who looked after routing, closures, and things more easily dealt with by someone who is fully immersed in top level organisation in UK. Step forward Sweetspot, perhaps?

 

[Peteaud]

Brilliant, have not been to Leeds for many years.

Last time i was there i ate yorkshire puds every day at a local pub.

well done Yorkshire.