Yorkshire has won the battle of the British regions to host the start of the Tour de France in 2014, the Tour organisers ASO confirmed on Friday morning, crossing the finish line first ahead of a joint "all-British" bid backed by British cycling's governing body, reports The Guardian.
It was estimated in June that a Yorkshire bid could bring one million people to the roadsides of the area and draw in £300m of economic benefit. It was also revealed that one of the three British stages will have a London finish.
"After an exceptional year for British cycling, marked by Bradley Wiggins's historic win in the Tour de France, the United Kingdom will again be honoured in 2014. The Grand Départ of the 101st Tour de France will be on 5 July in Leeds in the county of Yorkshire," a statement from ASO said. Further details will be announced on 17 January at a joint press conference in Leeds and Paris.
"It will mean less than two years after hosting the Olympics the British public can look forward to another of the world's biggest sporting events coming to the country," said Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, the agency behind the bid. "I am in no doubt they will come to Yorkshire in their millions, lining the length and breadth of the route to cheer on the champions of world cycling and our home grown British heroes."
Read more of this report from The Guardian.