Videos: Three films showcase Yorkshire's Tour de France starring role

With a shade over eight months to go until the 2014 Tour de France starts, excitement is building in Yorkshire over hosting the Grand Départ and here are a trio of short films showcasing the region’s spectacular scenery as well as some of the roads that will feature.

The first, called A Grand Day Out: The Movie, comes from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

It follows a small group of cyclists as they explore the beautiful surroundings and tackle some of the same climbs as the peloton will during the Tour.

The film comes complete with a quirky commentary by none other than veteran cycling commentator, Phil Liggett.

The National Park Authority has its own website dedicated to cycling, Cycle the Dales, aimed at everyone from seasoned roadies to families looking for short rides suitable for parents and children.

The website also has a list of Le Tour FAQs regarding the race’s visit to the Yorkshire Dales, and you can also sign up for an email newsletter, the first edition of which will be sent out this month.

Some of the same scenery is shown in a video form Welcome To Yorkshire that was unveiled at the presentation of the route of the 2014 Tour de France in Paris less than a fortnight ago.

In the film, called Made In Yorkshire, we see York-based framemaker Ricky Feather take a spin on some of the roads the Tour will visit, as well as spectacular aerial footage of Yorkshire’s spectacular scenery.

Finally, here’s a nice film from Bradford-based festival and community arts group, Hugh Jart, who drove the route of Stage 1 from Leeds to Harrogate, marking the points the race will pass with place names in giant letters painted, of course, in yellow.