Richmond will seize the opportunity provided by being a host town at the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire, says the town’s mayor.
Stuart Parsons was speaking after the town was named as one of eight in Yorkshire which will feature either the start of a stage or the finish at next year’s event between May 3 and 6.
Cllr Parsons said the announcement was very exciting news for the town.
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He said some people were very disappointed that Richmond was not a host town in 2014 when the Grand Depart was held in Yorkshire.
He added: “This will make up for that – it’s very exciting and we’re going to work with whoever we need to make it a success.
“We will make sure there are lots of exciting things happening in the town at the same time.
“It’s an opportunity to show what we have to offer here in Richmond so that people keep coming back after the racing has finished.”
The mayor said the choice of Richmond as a host was fitting as the town could trace its cycling heritage back to 1892 and the launch of Richmond Meet, which began as a cycling event.
Marcia McLuckie, chair of Richmond Business and Tourism Association, said being a host town for was terrific news for Richmond and for the Business and Tourism Association.
She added: “We are already working together to promote member businesses and to promote Richmond to the wider world under our new banner of Original Richmond.
The tour is a major event for us to work on and take opportunities in the town forward beyond 2018.”
On October 10 the group is holding an open meeting at the Georgian Theatre to discuss how the different groups can work together to further enhance and promote the town.
Marcia added: “Cllr Johnny Hayes will be telling us about York’s highly successful Bishy Road scheme, which won the Great British High Street award.
“I am hoping some good ideas will come from that evening.
“Perhaps the first thing we now need to think of is where we can paint Richmond on the ground to make sure the millions of television viewers are in no doubt that this beautiful town is the Original Richmond.”
The talk on October 10 starts at 7.30pm.
Barnsley, Beverley, Doncaster, Halifax, Ilkley, Leeds and Scarborough are the other towns which will host the start or finish of stages.
The full 2018 race route will be unveiled on December 5.
This announcement will include exact start and finish locations and the distance and profile of each stage and will be available as interactive maps.
