Estimates suggest that the Tour De France boosted Yorkshire economy by £100m
Yorkshire hosted the ‘Grand Départ’ of the world’s biggest cycle race on Saturday 5 July, with stage two taking place on Sunday 6 July.
With an estimated 2.5 million people coming to watch Le Tour on the streets of Leeds, Harrogate, York, Sheffield and everywhere in between, it is being considered one of the greatest Grand Départs of all time.
Initial estimates of the economic impact suggested that hosting the Tour De France would boost the Yorkshire economy by around £100m. But following the huge success of the weekend, the man who brought Le Tour to Yorkshire said that figure could easily be higher.
Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “We might have to revise those economic impact figures after the scenes we have witnessed this weekend. Undoubtedly, it will give a huge boost to the Yorkshire economy but it’s the images of Yorkshire people, Yorkshire pride and
Yorkshire’s outstanding landscapes beamed around the world which have been simply priceless for the county.
“When we first bid for the Grand Départ of the Tour de France, I promised Christian Prudhomme that we would deliver the grandest Grand Départ the Tour has ever seen. It gives me immense pride to say that we made good on that promise, and the success of this spectacular event will welcome an incredible new chapter in the history of Yorkshire.”
Prudhomme, General Director of Tour De France added: “I work for the Tour, but I also love the Tour, and I have seen that the people of Yorkshire love the Tour too.
“I can see the Tour in their hearts, and in their eyes. For that, I say thank you to Welcome to Yorkshire, and to everyone in Yorkshire who has made this Grand Depart so very, very special.
The cycling competition will conclude on 27 July in Paris.