Keighley, Silsden and Haworth celebrate Tour de France announcement (From Keighley News)
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Keighley, Silsden and Haworth celebrate Tour de France announcement
6:10pm Friday 18th January 2013 in News By Alistair Shand
Euphoria has greeted the news that Keighley will host a stage of the world’s most famous cycle race.
The Tour de France will pass through the town - and Silsden, Haworth and Oxenhope - as part of its Grand Depart next year.
Cycling groups, politicians and business bosses in the area have welcomed the announcement and said it should provide a massive boost for the district.
The race will come through this area, en route from York to Sheffield, on July 6, 2014 before the action moves to London and France.
John Dennis, chairman of Sport Keighley, said: “It is the perfect opportunity to show off our district. Hopefully people will come here for cycle holidays after seeing it. It is something we really need to cash in on. Welcome to Yorkshire have done a fantastic job selling the area, and we need to keep that momentum going. The amount of cycling stuff going on in Bradford and Keighley is amazing.
“This is something the whole world will be watching. I don’t think some people realise how big the sport is.
“In terms of its effect on Yorkshire, this will be bigger than the Olympics. And as soon as the race has gone people can have a go riding the routes themselves.”
One businessman said he had already benefited from the news.
Mike Hutchinson, who owns a three-room bed and breakfast business in Haworth, was booked-up within hours of the route being announced.
“It sounds like a couple of those coming are cyclists who used to visit the area many moons ago,” he said.
“News of the Tour de France passing through this area is absolutely superb for Keighley district and for Haworth.”
Local updates related to the race will appear regularly on this website and don’t miss next week’s Keighley News for a two-page special.
What do you think about the Tour de France coming to this area? Let us know your views by e-mailing the editor on richard.parker@keighleynews.co.uk or post your comments online.
