As the Grand Depart of this year’s Tour begins in Leeds, we consider the impact Lancashire and Yorkshire have made on the world’s greatest cycle race.
The British didn’t ‘do’ cycling. At least, that was the perception before Brian Robinson became the first British rider to finish the race (in 1955) and then win a stage, in 1958. From Mirfield, just a quick sprint from the routes of this year’s first two stages, Brian was Britain’s – and Yorkshire’s – first Tour de France hero, not that he sees it quite that way. "I suppose I played my part, I set the ball rolling if you like..." he modestly tells the Le Tour website.
In 1968 Yorkshire made more Tour history. Barry Hoban became the first British rider to win a mountain stage.
Lancashire had to wait a while to make quite the same impact on the Tour de France. When it came it arrived in style, sporting a pair of mutton-chop sideburns. Sir Bradley Wiggins lives in Ecclestone and can regularly be spotted (albeit in something of a blur) whizzing round the lanes of West Lancashire.
In 2012 Sir Bradley became the first Briton to win the Tour de France. He went on to win Olympic gold just a few weeks later.
This weekend Yorkshire hosts the Grand Depart and seals yet another place in Tour history. And once again, Lancashire will be playing its part too. The Tour will briefly swing into the hills above Rochdale as Stage 2 makes its way towards Sheffield. And with much of the first two stages practically on our doorstep you’ll find East Lancashire the ideal base for watching all the action in West Yorkshire. You can find accommodation in Lancashire here.
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