Skipton Business Finance is delighted to hear that the opening stages of the Tour De France 2014 will take place in Yorkshire.
Following the excellent bid submitted by Welcome To Yorkshire, the biggest annual world sporting event will begin in Leeds, with two stages winding through villages, towns and cities across Yorkshire.
The route is expected to include York, Sheffield and Scarborough, as well as hill climbs and descents through the Yorkshire Dales and North Yorkshire Moors, before cyclists then head down towards London.
Businesses can expect to see approximately £100m generated for the Yorkshire economy, as visitors from all over the world make their way over to the region to take in the early stages of the event.
Leeds City Council leader Keith Wakefield was overjoyed with the news, announced today by the Tour De France committee: “We are honoured that Leeds has been chosen to be the host city of the 2014 Grand Départ
“Leeds has a proud racing and riding history so it will be wonderful to welcome the biggest cycle race of them all to the heart of our vibrant city centre, inspire a new generation of Yorkshire cyclists to compete on the world stage and leave a lasting cycling legacy for the city," he concluded.
Ed Carney, Head of Marketing for SBF, said: "This is excellent news for both sporting enthusiasts and small businesses alike across Yorkshire. The prospect of such economic benefits for the region will be greatly received by all I'm sure at a time when the economy is in need of a boost".
He concluded: "I'm already counting down the days until I can see the likes of Bradley Wiggins cycling at breakneck speeds near our Leeds office!"