Harewood cycling festival close to being ready for Grand Depart launch

Dare 2b Yorkshire Festival of Cycling at Harewood House, near Leeds, with final preparations ahead of the Tour de France Grand Depart 2014 Le Tour Yorkshire. Pictured George Richardson, contract worker for Northern Event Structures. Picture by James Hardisty.

Around 20,000 people are expected to attend the stately home, near Leeds, to witness the official race start overseen by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry following its launch from The Headrow on Saturday at 11.10am.

Preparations are well underway on the historic estate’s grounds where masses of spectators are due to camp and make the most of the Dare 2b Yorkshire Festival of Cycling until Sunday.

It will feature a Red Arrows flypast during the Leeds to Harrogate stage one race as well as a range of sporting and family entertainment including an outdoors shopping expo, cycling cinema, live music and big screens.

Christopher Newton, the festival’s director, said: “We are extremely excited to be just hours away from the Grand Depart and the peleton passing up the drive of Harewood House.

“We are proud to be able to offer such a wide range of entertainment and activities to festival-goers, making for the most action packed weekend that Harewood has ever seen.”

For details visit www.festivalofcycling.org.