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Tour de France 2014 to visit Leeds, Harrogate, York, Sheffield, Cambridge and London

Image: Tour de France: On its way to Britain in 2014

Leeds, Harrogate, York, Sheffield, Cambridge and London will all host stage starts or finishes as the Tour de France returns to Britain next year.

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No prologue

There will be no prologue in 2014, with the opening day of the event instead taking riders 190km through Skipton, Kettlewell, Kilnsey, Aysgarth, Middleham and Ripon. The sprint finish will provide the perfect opportunity for Cavendish to get an early victory on the board in Harrogate, the town where his mother was born. Stage two will then travel 200km through Knaresborough, Skipton, Keighley, Haworth, Hebden Bridge, Huddersfield and Holmfirth on its way to Sheffield. Clipping the eastern flank of the Peak District, it will take riders over no fewer than six hills in the final 60km, climbing 1,400m, and suit "puncheurs" such as reigning world champion Philippe Gilbert, Peter Sagan or Joaquim Rodriguez. The 170km stage to London will pass through Epping Forest and the Olympic Park, before finishing in another sprint on The Mall that Cavendish will again be favourite to win.
Excited, enthusiastic and proud
Yorkshire's successful bid was led by Welcome To Yorkshire. It's chief executive, Gary Verity, said: "Ours is a land of stunning landscapes and passionate people. Yorkshire is known as the spiritual heartland of British cycling. "We are more than ready to welcome the Tour de France. The people of Yorkshire are excited, enthusiastic and proud. "The peloton will be technically tested as they tackle some challenging terrain in what are sure to be two exhilarating days of racing in the county. "The British public's response since the news broke that the 2014 Grand Départ would be hosted in Yorkshire has been overwhelming and I am sure the route announcements today will encourage even more people to come to the county to experience for themselves the phenomenon that is Le Tour." Hosting the Grand Depart is anticipated to raise up to £100million for the Yorkshire economy. Details of the French leg of the 2014 race will be unveiled on October 23.

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