of all the areas of Britain,why Yorkshire?

Preume you're trolling but anyway...

Not every TdF stage is mountainous.

Yorkshire folk went and wooed the Tour organisers. The TdF didn't turn up and say "where in Braitain shall we put the start of the Tour?"

crapaudthepitbull wrote:

I know that its old news now but with all the amazing areas in the UK they could have opted for why on earth choose Yorkshire for the Tour start. Was it simply ba question of money, if so i can understand that but otherwise im baffled. The stage routes are average at best, nothing really testing or interesting. The weather over there is invariably crap, the towns positively dull and the people often not the most animated. Thats before we get onto the abysmal track record of police support, or lack of, in relation to road racing and the fiasco years ago over a TOB stage which had to be neutralised because of some sort of policing/marshalling/escorting issue.
I would have much prefered stages around the Lake District, Snowdonia or the Southwest. Areas that are far more impressive and particuarly the SW who have always showed a huge amount of support for British RR.
I am waiting with eager anticipation to be enlightened.

The South West had a tour stage. It was, by all accounts, shit.

Is Andyp not refering to the infamous Plymouth TdF stage in the 70s run on a bit of dual carriageway, with vistually no fans in attendance?

Things have changed just a tad since then!

crapaudthepitbull wrote:

I know that its old news now but with all the amazing areas in the UK they could have opted for why on earth choose Yorkshire for the Tour start. Was it simply ba question of money, if so i can understand that but otherwise im baffled. The stage routes are average at best, nothing really testing or interesting. The weather over there is invariably crap, the towns positively dull and the people often not the most animated. Thats before we get onto the abysmal track record of police support, or lack of, in relation to road racing and the fiasco years ago over a TOB stage which had to be neutralised because of some sort of policing/marshalling/escorting issue.
I would have much prefered stages around the Lake District, Snowdonia or the Southwest. Areas that are far more impressive and particuarly the SW who have always showed a huge amount of support for British RR.
I am waiting with eager anticipation to be enlightened.

- The only reason really is that the Yorkshire tourism board had the idea to submit a bid and put effort and money into it; the other regions of the UK didnt. If you want the TdF to go to the particular area of the UK you like, start a campaign. Nothing stopping you.
- Your whole post is bizarre, but your statement that the stage routes are average is particularly baffling. Although these things are subjective, it goes through what many people would regard the most beautiful countryside of the UK. It is the most challenging grand depart since the 1970s; particularly stage 2 is incredibly hard and very closely resembles the route of Liege-Bastogne-Liege, but also the 1st stage is much more challenging than most people think. This is the hardest the TdF organisers would ever make a grand depart, and knowing the roads in the South-West and Snowdonia, it would very likely be much less challenging and interesting (although more coastal wind, I give you that).
- About the weather, annual rainfall in all three areas you mention is loads worse than Yorkshire. In fact, being on the East side of the Pennines, Yorkshire is one of the areas of the UK receiving the least rainfall. Snowdonia, the SW and Lake District are some of the wettest parts of the UK (http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weat ... limateMaps)

Anyway, I personally would welcome a South West or Welsh bid to host the Grand Depart - tell their authorities it seems worth it: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-24713858

It was the birthplace of modern art. What other reason would one need.

The Yorkshire man at the Tour Presentation said it. Not sure how trustworthy northeners are though...I dont know very many. On balance I would say they are less prone to exaggeration than those in South. By south, that constitutes anyone in London or lower.

David Hockney innit?

Of course the real reason they're starting the whole thing in Leeds is because I used to live there.

RichN95 wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

The Yorkshire man at the Tour Presentation said it. Not sure how trustworthy northeners are though...I dont know very many. On balance I would say they are less prone to exaggeration than those in South. By south, that constitutes anyone in London or lower.

Anything above the M4 is the north as far as I'm concerned.

My whole family are from the Isle of Wight - anything above the solent is North

Gods country. Nuff said


https://www.facebook.com/IfitsnotfromYorkshireitsshite

I'm confused by this thread as Yorkshire is in the South.

crapaudthepitbull wrote:

Thats before we get onto the abysmal track record of police support, or lack of, in relation to road racing and the fiasco years ago over a TOB stage which had to be neutralised because of some sort of policing/marshalling/escorting issue.

You are not very well versed in the Tour de France organisation, are you.
You will find that that organisation will have covered every centimeter of the courses and made their demands where necessary for road alterations etc. (I know about the Netherlands, but their obstructions are far too many to rectify)

The race will start and the road will become French Law from kerb to kerb with the French Police able to request the UK police escorts to make an arrest if necessary.

Amazing that a little Island like GB has so much friction about North/South in these modern times. Ridiculous
Me who was born in Central London and at 2 years of age the family moved to "Yorkshire" where I was brought up as a Tyke.

Much as I love the South West I really don't think there is anything down there more challenging than the route of Stage 2, in general the terrain has more short, steep hills. Snowdonia, for all its beautiful mountains doesn't have that much in the way of good quality, accessible road climbs and the Lake District climbs are potentially a bit severe for the first couple of stages of the Tour. For me Yorkshire offers probably the best terrain along with the other Peak District areas plus south and mid Wales (and Scotland but that starts to become a logistical issue), it's a great place for the Tour to start and at least they are venturing out of the south east on this visit.

As for the weather comment, ludicrous as pointed out by others.

I think the test of Trollness is proven by the fact the OP has not been back to argue there case.

As all in the know are aware, the North starts at Durham, and Northerners are both friendly and unwaveringly trustworthy. Its Southerners you need to keep an eye on.

TDF start in Leeds? Brilliant, well done them for pushing the boat out and going for it. Respect.