up hill struggle
Well-Known Member
- Location
- newtownards, county down
tour de France starts this weekend, got the sky+ box set to record it, but why does the tour de France start in Yorkshire?
forgive my ignorance
forgive my ignorance
Probably because the whole thing has always been a media circus. Its roots are in advertising for a sports paper and most of its history and customs come from that. As with most big sporting events, it's a huge commercial show, they do what is best for the bottom line. Being able to list other countries they've been through is part of that, hence the Giro starting in Ireland.I thought that, and its because they like to start it in neighbouring countries once in a while, no idea why! But am lucky as it goes straight past the bottom of my street
true, because its going through my hometown it's tempting me to buy the 'Yorkshire tour' merchandise, but as a typical yorkshireman its too expensive so I will wait until its being sold offProbably because the whole thing has always been a media circus. Its roots are in advertising for a sports paper and most of its history and customs come from that. As with most big sporting events, it's a huge commercial show, they do what is best for the bottom line. Being able to list other countries they've been through is part of that, hence the Giro starting in Ireland.
Restricted airspace over the race, so the microlight won't be much use!I've already got my watching spot picked out & most people won't have a clue how to get there The only issue is I won't get to see the procession pass really closely, but I get to see it for longer.
No, this is actually the roof of a building near the route. You get a really good view for a long stretch, you're just about 50-75m back from the road.Restricted airspace over the race, so the microlight won't be much use!
Because the Tour of Italy started in Ireland, of course. Sorry. You know what they say about a silly question getting a silly answer.
The most obvious sensible answer is "money".
I believe Yorkshire paid around £3m to get the Tour. This money goes to pay the riders etc. After all, you don't pay to watch like you do for football and so on. Why? Well, it is a Tour and towns and cities (and of course counties) get to show off their delights and tourist potential. Look good to the helicopter folks!
From the interest being shown in the Yorkshire stages (and the difficulty I had finding accommodation a year ago) it was money well invested. Just look how much publicity Yorkshire has received.
From a sort of evangelical aspect, you could say that it spreads the brand cycling and raises its profile. I'll go with that too.
There is a theory - which I will subscribe to - that the Tor de France created the idea of a French nation. We tend to assume that nations go back a long way, but this is not so. In a post-national age, it is politically interesting that events like this are going supra-national.