Will the Tour ever come back to Yorkshire?

diamondbacker
diamondbacker Posts: 224
edited July 2014 in Road general
The 2 stages in Yorkshire look to have been a great success (financially, support, competitively, weather, TV coverage and feedback from competitors etc) so it does make me wonder if the Tour is likely to come back to Yorkshire?

Also, where else in the UK would be a great place to hold a stage or two? The Lake District? Scottish Highlands?

I know I'd love to have the opportunity to see the race on routes I am familiar with.

Comments

  • rickeverett
    rickeverett Posts: 988
    Looking at the reactions from French media and the main tour organisation, there's a possibility.

    It's been big and TDF cash in. Even I got a £10 mug
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    The return visit wouldnt be as spectacular i think. So many people were there - would they all return ? I dont think so.

    Amazing reception though. I reckon it will be back to the Uk in a bit.
  • diamondbacker
    diamondbacker Posts: 224
    I think that would be true if they brought it back in a year or two, but if it was in say 5 or even 10 years time it might recapture the same level of enthusiasm if there are still British riders challenging for something.
  • ju5t1n
    ju5t1n Posts: 2,028
    Scotland looks most likely...

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/28174941
  • sbbefc
    sbbefc Posts: 189
    Wales should try but I know it wouldn't happen. Have two stages one in the north ans one down south.
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    sbbefc wrote:
    Wales should try but I know it wouldn't happen. Have two stages one in the north ans one down south.

    Yorkshire has a sizeable population close by, wales in particular does not. I suspect there would be less money to be made. Scotland is a much better bet, shame.
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Yorkshire? No, not in the immediate future, perhaps in 40 years or so, because it's been done and there are many other places. However it's quite possible we'll see another Grand Depart in the UK within 5-6 years.

    Scotland is a much better bet, that being said there's no reason they couldn't have a similar format and have two stages in Scotland, then a third stage starting from (say) Durham which has a sprint finish in Leeds.
  • rokt
    rokt Posts: 493
    I hope it returns very soon :D we've had a stunning weekend,
    I'm glad to get back to work today so I can have a rest !!
  • cc78
    cc78 Posts: 599
    markhewitt1978 wrote:
    Yorkshire? No, not in the immediate future, perhaps in 40 years or so, because it's been done and there are many other places. However it's quite possible we'll see another Grand Depart in the UK within 5-6 years.

    Scotland is a much better bet, that being said there's no reason they couldn't have a similar format and have two stages in Scotland, then a third stage starting from (say) Durham which has a sprint finish in Leeds.

    If Scotland launches a bid, and it sounds like it's on the cards, it will be under the auspices of Event Scotland/Visit Scotland, so it's unlikely that one of the stages would be south of the border. In any case Scotland might even be an independent country by then! Although there was cross-border cooperation at the Giro this year so I suppose it may be possible.

    It does raise the logistical issue of getting everything from Scotland to France overnight after stage 3. It's feasible but not straightforward. Otherwise they would have to bring the first rest day forward, as per the Giro transfer from Ireland.
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    This weekend was under the auspices of Welcome to Yorkshire - yet we still have a stage into London, so I'm not sure that's a massive issue.

    I don't think the transfer is a massive issue, they managed a transfer from Corsica after all, albeit with day 4 only consisting of a short time trial.
  • sbbefc
    sbbefc Posts: 189
    roger merriman wrote:
    sbbefc wrote:
    Wales should try but I know it wouldn't happen. Have two stages one in the north ans one down south.

    Yorkshire has a sizeable population close by, wales in particular does not. I suspect there would be less money to be made. Scotland is a much better bet, shame.

    I suppose they could have one in South Wales but that does more or less rule it out in the north, unless they finished in Liverpool or Chester. From a personal point of view a stage in South Wales is no good to me, probably easier to get to Yorkshire!
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Edinburgh has confirmed they are going to put in a bid to host the Grand Depart in 2018 or 2019. I reckon they'll get it too unless something happens to withdraw funding - such as Scotland going independent ;)
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,435
    Scotland would be good - a few stages through the Cairngorms would be a cool spectacle, and some pretty good climbs too. And I can see how much faster they are than me on rides I have done :D
  • rickeverett
    rickeverett Posts: 988
    Cumbria and Lancashire / North West will be awesome. 2 National Parks and multiple AONB's. Large population centres near-by.
  • LegendLust
    LegendLust Posts: 1,022
    They're already coming back next year

    http://letour.yorkshire.com/news/2015-y ... ial-launch
    Selling my Legend frame
    http://owningalegend.wordpress.com/2014 ... ced-price/
  • Graham K
    Graham K Posts: 329
    Can't see Yorkshire getting it again in my lifetime, Its been done and a great success by all accounts but Europe is a big ole place and there are many Countries vying for the privilege of Le Grande Depart.

    Logistics from Scotland to France isnt much of an issue, P+O Ferries are a sponsor/partner of Le Tour so should be happy enough to supply a boat or a shitload of Pedalo's :wink:
    Scotland > Durham then hop on a boat at Tyneside and away you go :D
  • southdownswolf
    southdownswolf Posts: 1,525
    Surely it's more important to get the Tour Of Britain up to WT level and get the top teams coming over to ride in Yorkshire, the Lakes, Wales, Highlands etc?
    http://www.stuartmole.co.uk/
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    edited July 2014
    southdownswolf wrote:
    Surely it's more important to get the Tour Of Britain up to WT level and get the top teams coming over to ride in Yorkshire, the Lakes, Wales, Highlands etc?

    Well we are going to be getting the top teams back in Yorkshire next year anyway - see LegendLusts link. Tour of Britian doesn't help itself by being lazy - it's the same old places every year. They need to actually vary it a bit which I can see makes everything much harder but is what is needed for it to be a proper tour of Britain (why go cajole and talk to cities in the East Midlands when you can just do it by numbers and go to Stoke again for the 47th time?)

    Personally, I could see the Tour coming back to Yorkshire but it would be 10-20 years away. Scotland I think is trying way too soon.
    Faster than a tent.......
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    It would be great to have Tour of Britain as a world class event, so whomever isn't doing the Vuelta is doing the ToB.
  • jonny_trousers
    jonny_trousers Posts: 3,588
    It could end up in Surrey. The locals love cyclists and the roads are millpond smooth. There's also the epic Box Hill to separate the men from the boys.

    Tongue firmly in cheek
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Jonny_Trousers wrote:
    It could end up in Surrey. The locals love cyclists and the roads are millpond smooth. There's also the epic Box Hill to separate the men from the boys.
    Tongue firmly in cheek

    hehe. Although I have to say I think part of the reason Yorkshire generated so much interest this time through was just the fact that it's Yorkshire. When a big sporting event like the Tour de France, Olympics, World Cup etc visits London is just expected and normal. But this was Leeds, something entirely different!
  • rickeverett
    rickeverett Posts: 988
    markhewitt1978 wrote:
    Jonny_Trousers wrote:
    It could end up in Surrey. The locals love cyclists and the roads are millpond smooth. There's also the epic Box Hill to separate the men from the boys.
    Tongue firmly in cheek

    hehe. Although I have to say I think part of the reason Yorkshire generated so much interest this time through was just the fact that it's Yorkshire. When a big sporting event like the Tour de France, Olympics, World Cup etc visits London is just expected and normal. But this was Leeds, something entirely different!


    They still had to spoil it with a Flat London stage. :roll:

    They could have gone over into North Yorkshire, Lancs or Cumbria - Imagine them through the Lakes and Hardknot Pass.
    Good thing about those places is its all near high population areas so you get crowds that can easily access the AONB's & National Parks.
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    rickeverett wrote:
    They still had to spoil it with a Flat London stage. :roll:

    Yes, watching yesterday I did think that was a bit of a pity, a flat stage and then into London where you couldn't really see the riders for half the time because of the rain. Part of it was wanting to get to the channel ports of course, but part of it was kind of a security blanket thing; can't go to the UK without going to London!

    I hope that when/if Edinburgh gets the nod they have the will to not bother with London at all.

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