Each year the area or city hosting the start of the legendary cycle race gets to hold the trophy, which has now gone on display in Leeds Civic Hall.
The trophy, created by the Tour de France organisers Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), was presented for the first time to the island of Corsica which hosted the Grand Départ of the centenary Tour last year.
At the conclusion of the race, won by Britain’s Chris Froome, the trophy was officially passed over on the finish line on the Champs-Élysées by President of the Executive Council of Corsica Paul Giacobbi to Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire Gary Verity who led the bid to bring the Tour de France to Yorkshire.
With less than sixth months to go now before the start of the 2014 race, the ornate trophy featuring the Tour de France logo and inscribed with the names and years for Corsica and Yorkshire is now on display outside the council chamber in Civic Hall to further raise the anticipation level around this year’s event.
As well as being on display in Leeds, the trophy will also be seen in locations along the routes of the two Tour stages in Yorkshire in the coming months before returning in time for the start of the Grand Départ on July 5.
Councillor Keith Wakefield, Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “The interest and media coverage in the last couple of weeks to mark the new year and six months to go is an indication of how excited everyone is getting around Leeds and Yorkshire hosting the start of the Tour de France.
“We are honoured to host the Grand Départ trophy and hope lots of people come and see it and are inspired to get involved and support what is sure to be amazing event when the Tour comes to Leeds in July.”
Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “This is a great chance for everyone to see the trophy up close and personal. It’s wonderful to see Yorkshire inscribed on this impressive trophy and our county associated with the Tour.
“It also brings home the fact for many that the Tour de France really is coming and we are just months away from a historic moment for Yorkshire and its people.”
