North Lincolnshire misses out as Tour de France 2014 route announced

Despite hopes of the world's best cyclists passing through

the region, North Lincolnshire will not feature in the 2014 Tour de France, it

was announced this morning.

It was announced last year that a Yorkshire-led bid had won

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the right to stage the opening of the 2014 race, known as the Grand Depart.

Last month, Andrew Percy, MP for Brigg and Goole, met with

counterparts from across Yorkshire, to discuss the plans for the route.

Mr Percy said the Tour passing over the Humber Bridge would

prove an 'iconic image' and was hopeful of the area being included in the

route.

But organisers have today announced the route will begin in

Leeds on July 5 2014, before passing through the Yorkshire Dales and finishing

in Harrogate.

Stage two, on July 6, will begin in York and then finish in

Sheffield.

The third stage, on July 7, will start in Cambridge and take

in the Olympic Park, before finishing in the Mall.

Mr Percy previously said that even if the region was not

included in the route, the region would still benefit from the 2014 event.

He said: "If we don't get the Tour then we hope to get other

big cycling races.

"Around £300 million will be created for the region and with

more people coming, we can also benefit from an increase in tourism."