Hundreds of visitors to Westmorland County Show this week took the opportunity to get up close with an international cycling trophy.
As part of the build-up to the Tour de France Grand Départ arriving in Westmorland and Furness next July, the Grand Départ Trophy and more information about the iconic cycle race featured on a special stand on both days of the show on Wednesday and Thursday, as part of a planned ‘Trophy Tour’ programme to raise awareness about the event next year.
Stage Two of the men's 2027 Tour de France will be starting in Keswick on Saturday, 3 July, 2027, with riders travelling through some of Westmorland and Furness’ most spectacular scenery, passing lakes including Thirlmere, Grasmere, Rydal Water and Windermere before heading through the Lyth Valley, Levens, Milnthorpe and Beetham into Lancashire and on to the stage finish in Liverpool.
The Tour de France is the world’s biggest annual sporting event. The race attracts 10-12 million live spectators each year, is broadcast on television in over 180 countries and has a TV viewership of 150m in Europe alone.
The Grand Départ Trophy will be presented to the host of the next Tour de France Grand Départ in 2027.
Westmorland and Furness Council is working with the race organisers as one of the ‘host authorities’ of next year’s Grand Départ, supporting Stage Two in areas including highways arrangements to ensure the safe and successful delivery of the event.
The council will also be working with race organisers and partners including Cumbria Combined Authority, Cumbria Tourism and local communities to support community participation and to maximize the social, economic, community and legacy benefits of the event for the area.
Senior Westmorland and Furness councillors including Leader Councillor Jonathan Brook, Chairman Councillor Doug Rathbone and Cabinet member for Communities, Customer Services, Culture and Communications, Councillor Helen Chaffey, visited the stand at the Westmorland County Show on Wednesday to see the Grand Départ Trophy.
Councillor Chaffey said: “This is where it starts getting real! Seeing the Grand Départ Trophy at the Westmorland County Show I can't tell you how excited I am about this incredible opportunity to showcase our beautiful Westmorland and Furness area to the whole world next July.
“This is the world’s biggest sporting event both in terms of TV audience and people attending live on the day - and it’s coming here !
“Our communities, especially those along the way, are also getting excited about the prospect and we will be working closely with them on how we can use this event to promote a more active and healthy lifestyle, as well as celebrate the day itself.
"It is also a wonderful opportunity to attract more people to come and live and work here, as well as providing a welcome boost to our visitor economy”.
Councillor Brook added: “This is a really significant event for Cumbria and for Westmorland and Furness.
“This is one of the world's premier sporting events viewed by millions of people around the world.
“The riders will be racing through some of the most iconic scenery in the world and alongside the benefits of showcasing our area to that global audience there are the benefits that come with the social impact of the race.
“Once the race has gone through, what we're hoping for, what we're working towards, is ensuring a lasting legacy in terms of inspiring people to get involved in sport, not necessarily just cycling, and engaging with physical activity and healthy lifestyles.’’
- For more information about the Tour de France Grand Départ coming to Westmorland and Furness next year, visit: Tour de France Grand Départ 2027 | Westmorland and Furness Council
- For more information about the Tour de France race, visit: www.letourgb.com