An artist impression of the stage for the ceremony
Four Weeks to the Yorkshire Grand Départ Opening Ceremony: Be Part of History
The Yorkshire Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2014 kicks off exactly four weeks tonight with a spectacular Opening Ceremony and Team Presentation at the Leeds Arena, and a chance for spectators to become a part of history.
Defending champion Chris Froome and sprint sensation Mark Cavendish will be among top cycling stars to greet the crowd on July 3, as Yorkshire welcomes 22 of the world’s best cycling teams in a glittering ceremony showcasing some of the county’s top entertainment talent.
Yorkshire band Embrace will headline the event, which will be their first arena gig since their recent sell-out comeback tour and album. Their latest album went straight into the national album chart at number 5. Originally from Brighouse, Embrace have three number 1 albums, six top ten singles and over two million UK album sales behind them.
Embrace frontman Danny McNamara said: “It’s going to be amazing, to have one of the biggest annual sporting events in the world coming to our back yard and to be part of it is nothing short of massive, we’re really looking forward to it!”
Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh will join York singer/songwriter Alistair Griffin on stage to perform the track he wrote called The Road – the official anthem of Yorkshire’s Grand Départ 2014.
Kimberley, known the world over for her role in the multi-platinum selling group Girls Aloud, said: “It is going to be a night to remember and one where we make history together, giving the Tour de France a true Yorkshire welcome. Performing at this event with Alistair in our home county is going to be a special moment for me.”
To celebrate the collaboration between Yorkshire and France, million selling French singer Pauline Vassuer will sing her hit “Allo le Monde”.
The orchestra and chorus of Opera North will perform music specially created for the event live throughout the ceremony, conducted by composer Philip Sheppard, who composed music for London 2012.
The band Hope and Social, one of the stars of the hugely successful Yorkshire Festival, will also take part – teaming up with 100 performers of all ages who’ve joined them as they’ve taken their Tour of Infinite Possibility around the county.
Executive producer Martin Green, who was Head of Ceremonies at the London 2012 Olympics, said: “We’re breaking new ground here for the Tour de France with this ambitious show – it’s something much bigger and completely new to the cycling world. With the theme of the event The People of Yorkshire Welcome the World, this will give the riders the entrance they deserve as the Yorkshire Grand Départ celebrations begin.”
Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “We know how enthusiastic millions of people are to make sure they get a chance to be part of the Tour de France coming to Yorkshire and their first opportunity will be at the Opening Ceremony and Team Presentation on Thursday July 3. Thousands of people will be able to see up close and hear from these cycling stars, witnessing a moment in history and making the Tour’s arrival an unforgettable experience.”
The show will be broadcast around the world, with a special programme in the UK on ITV 4.
Hosts, ITV sports presenter Jill Douglas and the voice of the Tour de France Sebastien Piquet, will interview riders from the teams and Team Sky will parade their top secret Pinarello’s Dogma F8 bikes which have been a year in the making and are reportedly the best bikes the team have ever ridden.
Tickets for the not-for-profit event start at £45 upwards (all the highest priced £85 tickets sold out in minutes) and are available at www.letouryorkshire.com/tickets by phone on 0844 248 1585 or from the box office in Trinity Leeds shopping centre where no booking fee applies.
Check out this short film by Matt Pennell of the Doncaster Cycle Festival 2014 that took place at the weekend.
Results – Doncaster Town Centre Races
1. Ed Clancy, Rapha Condor JLT
2. Dean Downing, NFTO
3. James Moss, Velosure Giordana
4. Harry Tanfield, KTM
5. Alistair Rutherford, Wheelbase
6. Richard Hepworth, Velosure Giordana
7. Charlie Tanfield, Adept
8. Jacob Scott, Haribo Beacon
9. Jack Sadler, Rapha Condor JLT
10. Jake Womersley, Haribo Beacon
Women 2/3/4
1. Paige Willmard, bikepure
2. Abby Mae Parkinson, RST Racing
3. Penny Rowson, Matrix Volpine
4. Sam Burman, WNT
5. Lauren O’Bien, RST Racing
6. Rebecca Rimmington, Merlin
7. Sam Thoy, Jadan
8. Alison Kinloch, PH Mas
9. Nicola Moore, Squadra RT
10. Joanne Blakeley, GB Cycles
Category 3-4
1. Andy Bishop, Autocentres racing
2. Andrew Webster, GKV
3. Christopher Mark, NRG
4. Adam Turner, Autocentres racing
5. Jason Millar, Caesaren CC
6. Charlie Renshaw, Dinnington RC
7. Jake Beach, Velocity
8. Bobbin Gardner, Boneshakers
9. Kieran Simcox, Dinnington RC
10. Daniel Stoccero, 3RT
UNDER 12
1. George Southby, East Bradford
2. Matthew Baptista, Mid Lancs
3. Billy Lazenby, Clifton CC
4. Matthew Kingston, Lichfield CC
5. Thomas Bates, Mossley CRT
6. Ava Oxley, Kirkless
7. Rachel Earnshaw, Clifton CC
8. Joseph Pidcock, Aire Valley
9. Adam Fortune, Kirklees
10. Daniel Reynolds
Under 14
1. Jack Ford, Holmefirth
2. Alistair Leivers, Blackpool
3. Jim Brown, Holmfirth
4. Euan Cameron, East Bradford
Others @ 1 lap
Sam Walsham, Joshua Greenwood, Eddie Townend, Cavan Walker, Sam Watson, Isabel Darvill
Under 16
1. Thomas Pidcock, Aire Valley
2. Harry Hardcastle, Kirklees
3. Reece Wood, Velocity
4. Cameron Orr, Matlock CC
5. Jake Beach, Velocity
6. Robert Scott, Pedalsport
7. Jamie Ridehalgh, Kirklees
8. Max Williamson, Bikebox
9. William Turnball, Marton RT
10. Ben Turner, Dinnington RC
The 2014 Tour of Britain, which takes place from 7 -14 September this year has been unveiled in a film short that relives some of the best moments from the past few years, and with it a new look for Britain’s biggest professional cycle race.
With 100 days to go at the end of the week until September’s Tour of Britain, the first to be run at 2.HC status, fans can now enjoy the official promo video and look forward to this September’s event.
Twelve months on and at the same venue as their last team victory, Raleigh returned to the top step of the podium after an impressive Durham showing, but it was Jon Mould’s individual win that took the plaudits.
For the second time in five days the Welsh NFTO rider was involved in a thrilling final sprint with a Rapha Condor JLT rider, but, unlike in Aberystwyth, Mould came out on top, narrowly pipping Graham Briggs for the individual victory, his second of the 2014 Pearl Izumi Tour Series.
The pair had been part of the lead group of riders for much of the race, including perennial Durham favourite Kristian House and Raleigh duo Evan Oliphant and Matthieu Boulo, with all seeming to take their turn off the front at one point or other.
Come the last lap around Durham’s tough South Street circuit it was Mould and Briggs who were left in front, with Mould squeezing past Briggs for the victory, to add to his Round One win in Stoke-on-Trent.
The Newport rider was at the front throughout, winning all three Sprints to extend his lead over Briggs in the Sprints jersey to four points.
But NFTO couldn’t take the team prize, with next best placed rider Josh Hunt down in 16th position, instead it was Raleigh taking the honours thanks to Boulo outsprinting House for third, and Morgan Kniesky in sixth and Oliphant in ninth making sure of the honours.
With Liam Stones just outside the top ten in eleventh is was comfortably the best performance yet for the Heron and enough to give them the win over Rapha Condor JLT.
The men in black, although now far more accustomed to wearing the yellow and red of Pearl Izumi, stretch their Pearl Izumi Tour Series lead to 10-points overall as Madison Genesis had an evening to forget. Kiwi duo Mike Northey and Tom Scully took eighth and twelfth, but their all-important third counting rider was Tobyn Horton, way down in 39th.
As a result Madison Genesis finished sixth on the night as several other teams enjoyed their best performances of the 2014 season.
There was also further success for the young Great Britain team, with Chris Lawless recording the Costa Express Fastest Lap, early on in proceedings.
Highlights of the Durham round are on ITV4 at 10pm on Wednesday 28th May, with a repeat at 6.55am on Thursday 29th May.
Round Six sees The Pearl Izumi Tour Series make its debut in Edinburgh on Thursday 29th May, with the Matrix Fitness GP Series also resuming, for Round Three of the women’s events.
The Pearl Izumi Tour Series
Tuesday 27 May 2014, Durham
Round Five Team Result 1) Team Raleigh 2) Rapha Condor JLT 3) Node4 Velosure 4) NFTO Pro Cycling 5) Metaltek Kuota 6) Madison Genesis 7) Starley Primal Pro Cycling 8) Pedal Heaven Colbornes 9) Great Britain
Round Five Individual Result 1) Jon Mould, GBR, NFTO Pro Cycling 2) Graham Briggs, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT 3) Matthieu Boulo, FRA, Team Raleigh 4) Kristian House, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT 5) Marcin Bialoblocki, POL, Node4 Velosure 6) Morgan Kniesky, FRA, Team Raleigh 7) George Harper, GBR, Node4 Velosure 8) Mike Northey, NZL, Madison Genesis 9) Evan Oliphant, GBR, Team Raleigh 10) Steve Lampier, GBR, Node4 Velosure
Round Five Costa Express Fastest Lap: Chris Lawless, GBR, Great Britain, Round Five Sprint Winner: Jon Mould, GBR, NFTO Pro Cycling
Overall Team Standings, post-Round Five 1) Rapha Condor JLT, 64pts 2) Madison Genesis, 54pts 3) NFTO Pro Cycling, 48pts 4) Team Raleigh, 47pts 5) Node4 Velosure, 34pts 6) Metaltek Kuota, 29pts 7) Great Britain, 27pts 8) Starley Primal Pro Cycling, 22pts 9) Pedal Heaven Colbornes, 17pts
Overall Sprint Standings, post-Round Five 1) Jon Mould, GBR, NFTO Pro Cycling, 44pts 2) Graham Briggs, GBR, Rapha Condor JLT, 40pts 3) Tom Scully, NZL, Madison Genesis, 22pts
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Subscribe for 10% Discount!
Join our mailing list to receive the latest cycling news and updates from our team. Receive 10% off your first order placed in our online shop!
The show will be broadcast around the world, with a special programme in the UK on ITV 4.
You must be logged in to post a comment.