Fine by me.
Doesn't really encourage cycling in the City, just costs £m's to host..
While I enjoy watching the tour and the Yorkshire stages were a success I can't help thinking that TFL essentially part subsidising a commercial sporting event is, an essentially French one at that, is a bit askew...
Considering the growth in UK cycling interest I would hope we could rustle up more support for the tour of Britain instead...
This means that every other bit of the UK gets first refusal - remember how everyone at sport england were pissed off that welco e to Yorkshire sealed the deal on the grand depart and London then wanted in on the act?
Going through the entire bidding process then pulling out the day before contracts is somewhat taking the piss, wasting the organiser's time and it certainly won't improve the chances of another British Grand Depart any time soon.
If only TFL had had a recent example of the TdF visiting the UK to use to predict the likely cost and benefits before bidding....
It was very good for getting a lot of money for resurfacing roads 🙂
A shame as I'm sure either Edinburgh or Manchester (who London beat to the race to host it) would have put on a great grand depart that would have built on the good work done by Yorkshire
Very poor by TfL to go through all the bidding and then pull out at the 11th hour
tosseurs ! 🙄
No great loss really, couple of times up Box Hill and a sprint up the Mall? Yawn off.
No great loss really, couple of times up Box Hill and a sprint up the Mall? Yawn off.
Pfft. Rag it down to Dover and then TT through the tunnel to Calais!
A shame as I'm sure either Edinburgh or Manchester (who London beat to the race to host it) would have put on a great grand depart that would have built on the good work done by Yorkshire
Very poor by TfL to go through all the bidding and then pull out at the 11th hour
This mainly. Not only stopped either hosting it this year, but massively reduced the chances of the UK getting another one any time soon, anywhere. I'm actually really quite angered by this.
Good decision,poorly delivered
In what possible world is it a good decision to bid for something you don't know if you can afford to do? Not bidding at all might have been a good decision..
They clearly did a Business Case BEFORE they bid, the world turned again and someone said "save the money, spend it on real stuff"
I agree.
True the message was close to the line, but before it and delivered so others can opt in/out or indeed shake it all about.
Now, that £6m..?
Clearly going into cycle infrastructure No?? 😆
Good decision not to hold the event
Poorly delivered by getting to the day before contract
You know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
😐
You've no soul.
Poor decision if they had done their sums right.
I wonder if Mr Verity is on the phone to M. Prudhoe and the city fathers of Manchester and Edinburgh.
Sadly 218 miles is a little long for a stage or depart Manchester to finish uphill on the Royal Mile with the finish line at the castle gates would be nice.