An anthem for the Grand Départ and a brand new international cycle race for Yorkshire.
Two announcements made by tourism body Welcome To Yorkshire at its conference today (Thursday) marking 100 days until the Tour de France arrives.
Tour de France organisers ASO, Welcome To Yorkshire and British Cycling are set to sign an agreement to deliver the three-day race from 2015. Featuring the world’s elite race cyclists it will cross the county.
“We are working closely with the ASO and British Cycling to continue the lasting legacy of Yorkshire’s Grand Départ by delivering this new race for Yorkshire from 2015, which will rank as a major new addition to the global cycling calendar,” said Gary Verity, Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive.
“It has the potential to take in wider parts of the county and we look forward to announcing more details in due course.”
York musician on The Road
Delegates at the Y14 conference in Harrogate also heard York musician Alistair Griffin premiere his new song, The Road, commissioned by Welcome To Yorkshire to be the official anthem of Yorkshire’s Grand Départ.
The Road is available for people to order from today and is a first in the history of the Grand Départs.
Alistair has a strong track record of writing original music for sport, with his track Just Drive being Sky’s title track for their Formula 1 coverage.
Festival underway
The conference also heralded the start of The Yorkshire Festival 2014, a cultural and arts festival taking place in the run-up to and alongside the race.
“This is a momentous day for our county – we are just 100 days away from making history and a moment the world will never forget,” said Gary Verity.
“Yorkshire will never have a better chance to shine on the global stage, and Welcome to Yorkshire will be doing everything in our power to maximise the positive impact of this opportunity that, alongside our partners, we have worked so hard to bring about.”
Welcome to Yorkshire also unveiled its new advert, which will be screened in 3,000 London taxi cabs throughout April.
And most ticket barriers at King’s Cross railway station in the capital will carry Yorkshire’s Grand Départ branding during spring.