Tour de France comes through Huddersfield
Thu, 17 Jul 2014 13:29:00 BST
Huddersfield became the focal point in July for the worlds' greatest cycling race.
Millions of spectators lined the Tour de France route through the Yorkshire region with an estimated 2.5m spectators showing their support for the race which is now in its 101st year. Among them were over 60,000 enthusiasts in Huddersfield as the world's biggest race came through town.
After day 1's magnificent showing, Huddersfield and the areas on the surrounding route did themselves proud with huge, colourful crowds roaring on the racers as they passed.
The routes filled up early on as people jostled to get the best spots and the atmosphere began to build.
This was the first time that the Tour de France had come to Huddersfield and will be remembered forever by those in the crowd who saw the once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The Tour's general director Christian Prudhomme has declared the opening to the 2014 race "the grandest Grand Depart ever". The first two stages of the famous cycle race were held in Yorkshire.
Mr Prudhomme said the huge crowds seen out on the route were "unbelievable, incredible, amazing, and astonishing". And he added the five times Tour champion and fellow Frenchman Bernard Hinault told him he had never seen crowds like it in 40 years of cycling.
Photos by University of Huddersfield Photography BA(Hons) student Alex Beldea.
