Published on : Friday, June 6, 2014
The Yorkshire Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2014 kicks off exactly four weeks tonight with a spectacular Opening Ceremony and Team Presentation at the Leeds Arena, and a chance for spectators to become a part of history.
Defending champion Chris Froome and sprint sensation Mark Cavendish will be among top
cycling stars to greet the crowd on July 3, as Yorkshire welcomes 22 of the world’s best
cycling teams in a glittering ceremony showcasing some of the county’s top entertainment
talent.
Yorkshire band Embrace will headline the event, which will be their first arena gig since their recent sell-out comeback tour and album. Their latest album went straight into the national album chart at number 5. Originally from Brighouse, Embrace have three number 1 albums, six top ten singles and over two million UK album sales behind them.
Embrace frontman Danny McNamara said: “It’s going to be amazing, to have one of the
biggest annual sporting events in the world coming to our back yard and to be part of it is
nothing short of massive, we’re really looking forward to it!”
Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh will join York singer/songwriter Alistair Griffin on stage to perform the track he wrote called The Road – the official anthem of Yorkshire’s Grand
Départ 2014.
Kimberley, known the world over for her role in the multi-platinum selling group Girls Aloud, said: “It is going to be a night to remember and one where we make history together, giving the Tour de France a true Yorkshire welcome. Performing at this event with Alistair in our home county is going to be a special moment for me.”
To celebrate the collaboration between Yorkshire and France, million selling French singer
Pauline Vassuer will sing her hit “Allo le Monde”.
The orchestra and chorus of Opera North will perform music specially created for the event live throughout the ceremony, conducted by composer Philip Sheppard, who composed music for London 2012.
The band Hope and Social, one of the stars of the hugely successful Yorkshire Festival, will
also take part – teaming up with 100 performers of all ages who’ve joined them as they’ve
taken their Tour of Infinite Possibility around the county.
Executive producer Martin Green, who was Head of Ceremonies at the London 2012
Olympics, said: “We’re breaking new ground here for the Tour de France with this ambitious show – it’s something much bigger and completely new to the cycling world. With the theme of the event The People of Yorkshire Welcome the World, this will give the riders the entrance they deserve as the Yorkshire Grand Départ celebrations begin.”
Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “We know how enthusiastic
millions of people are to make sure they get a chance to be part of the Tour de France
coming to Yorkshire and their first opportunity will be at the Opening Ceremony and Team
Presentation on Thursday July 3. Thousands of people will be able to see up close and hear
from these cycling stars, witnessing a moment in history and making the Tour’s arrival an
unforgettable experience.”
The show will be broadcast around the world, with a special programme in the UK on ITV 4.
Hosts, ITV sports presenter Jill Douglas and the voice of the Tour de France Sebastien
Piquet, will interview riders from the teams and Team Sky will parade their top secret
Pinarello’s Dogma F8 bikes which have been a year in the making and are reportedly the
best bikes the team have ever ridden.
Source:- Yorkshire
Tags: Travel Destination News, Yorkshire
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