Christian was in Cambridge yesterday (Tuesday) to see for himself where Stage 3 of this year’s race will start.
He was joined by Cllr Martin Curtis, Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, and Cllr Tim Bick, Leader of Cambridge City Council as they helped mark out on Parker’s Piece where the start line will be on Monday 7 July.
Beginning on Gonville Place by Parker’s Piece, the cyclists will ride through the historic city centre via Regent Street and Sidney Street before turning left at the Round Church.
The riders will then travel past the world famous colleges of St Johns, Trinity and Kings as they cycle along Kings Parade and Trumpington Street before leaving the city via Trumpington Road.
The peloton will then race through South Cambridgeshire via the A1301 taking in the villages including Trumpington, Great Shelford and Hinxton. The Tour will then leave the county travelling on to Saffron Walden and through Essex towards London to finish on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.
Christian Prudhomme, director of Le Tour, said: “The famous university city of Cambridge provides a stunning setting for the beginning of Stage 3 of the Tour de France. The race moves onto Essex to showcase the county’s beautiful towns, villages and countryside, before moving onto London for a spectacular finish on The Mall – seven years to the day after the 2007 Grand Départ. We are proud to come back to London and the UK, which will provide an incredible backdrop for the Tour.”
Cllr Tim Bick, Leader of Cambridge City Council, said: "It was great to meet again with Christian and show him where Stage 3 of this year’s race will begin. The start will take place next to the Parkers Piece in our historic city centre which will be transformed on the day into a cycling village hosting a variety of events and sporting activities as the teams prepare for the 159km ride to London. Monday 7 July is going to be a fantastic occasion for Cambridge and I can’t wait for it to arrive.”
Cllr Martin Curtis, Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “Christian’s visit was a great opportunity to highlight the huge amount of work that has been done to over the last few months as we prepare to welcome Le Tour in July. We explained how in the next few weeks we will be dressing the city so it is ready to welcome the teams in the summer. There is still much to be done but by working together, we will make sure Monday 7 July is a day like no other in Cambridge’s long and noble history.”
The Vindis Group added: “The Vindis Group are proud to sponsor this year’s Big Weekend and in particular The Cycling Village in honour of Tour De France, as well as our local retailer Vindis ŠKODA Cambridge who are pleased to chauffeur the Director of the ASA, Christian Prudhomme, around Cambridge and into London in his press duties ahead of the big event in July.
“Founded in 1960 by Frank Vindis, the Vindis Group opened its first retailer in Sawston, which the Tour De France cyclists will be going past in July. The family run business has a network of Audi, Bentley, ŠKODA, Volkswagen and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle retailers, spanning five counties. In addition, two trade parts divisions located in Bishop’s Stortford and Cambridge; a Head Office function in Huntingdon; and a large Fleet Centre situated on Alconbury Airfield. Whilst the business has continued to expand, we have been careful to nurture the core family values our business was founded upon. “
The Grand Départ will race from Leeds to Harrogate on July 5, York to Sheffield on July 6, and a third stage will travel from Cambridge to London on July 7.
Exact details of the route and road closures can be found online at www.letourcambridge.com.
In the build up to the arrival of the Tour, detailed information will be given to residents, businesses and visitors regarding the impact of the race on Cambridge and the county. This will be made available online at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/letourstage3 and www.cambridge.gov.uk/le-tour-cambridge as well as through leaflets, roadshows and events.
Information will also be made available via Facebook: www.facebook.com/LeTourCambridge or Twitter: @LeTourCambridge
_____________________________________________