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OPINION
Should the Tour come back?
2014 Tour de France Stage 2 - peloton (picture credit Welcome to Yorkshire)
Here is a potentially controversial viewpoint.
I loved having the Tour here and I want to see a legacy of cycling develop in Cambridgeshire, I truly do.
But...
As a Tour de France nut, would I like to see the race on a rotation back to the UK every 3-4 years?
No. Not at all. I would rather have quality visits from the Tour, as opposed to more frequent excursions from the mainland.
I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams being able to cycle from my house to the Tour. Never. I had that opportunity and it will remain one of the most memorable days of my life. So I feel a little bit selfish for wanting to ration the race's appearances on this island.
But part of the reason for that is that the Tour remains a mystical, continental event for me. It's ingrained on my brain that way.
The Tour de France, by virtue of its name, belongs in France. Even the Utrecht start next summer is offending me slightly, although trips to the surrounding countries to Le Hexagon are very regular.
For me, the purist, there should be no consideration for money in play when the parcours is discussed. The race should go where the race is most likely to entertain.
The real world however, spoils my view!
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12 comments
We would like to see it coming to Edinburgh next time. Edinburgh does bike events
The worlds I would like as the multi discipline format is closer to the Olympic cycling we all enjoyed in 2012.
We have a recent winner and I think the public would get behind it.
It's multi-discipline as you say- and we have TWO recent winners at senior men's level, one this year!
They seem to be in a cycle roughly of starting outside France every other year at the moment.
I'd like to see, maybe in five-eight years, a coordinated effort from the UK & Ireland. Bring the Tour, Giro, Vuelta starts AND the World Road Race championships here
Id rather see the TofB do as good a job, and have that instead.
Traditionally this year would see the Tour start on French soil. Is Utrecht in France??
Traditionally this year would see the Tour start on French soil. Is Utrecht in France??
What's wrong with a Utrecht start? The Dutch love cycling, it's been only four years since the Rotterdam start anyway. I guess you've not been a "Tour de France nut" for very long otherwise you'd know that.
A tad aggressive Nick
I am aware that the Tour regularly starts outside of France, but as I allude to in the piece, I feel that's more for commercial reasons than for the benefit of the race.
Its my preference that the race is conducted in France. But that's my preference based on my experiences watching the race (and since you ask, its 29 Tours!) . I just have a better feeling watching the race in France. Others may not, its a personal thing.
I do accept there are other viewpoints though. The most drama filled prologue was 1989 when Delgado missed his start (in Luxembourg), and the stage a lot of people highlight as the best win in modern times was Claudio Chiappucci in 1992 (to Sestrieres in Italy).
Doesn't make my view right or wrong, just makes it my view.
Why is Utrecht offending you? The tour has started outside of France six times in the last ten years - it's almost a tradition of the modern tour and (as we saw this year) a great way of widening it's appeal.
I think we should see it back here in the 2020's and until then lot's of other close by countries.
If it was here every few years then it wouldn't be special - so it won't.
7 years since the last time ?
That seems about right. There are plenty of cities who want to pay for a tour visit in Europe.
"As a Tour de France nut, would I like to see the race on a rotation back to the UK every 3-4 years?"
You're building a strawman up so that you can knock it down. I've never heard that suggested.
It's neither sought nor warranted.
A TdF trip across across the Channel, every 10 years or so, would be grand.