TOUR de Yorkshire bosses have spoken of their astonishment and delight after viewing how a community has united to decorate a town ahead of the race's arrival.
After arriving in Thirsk today (Wednesday, April 27) during a hailstorm, Sir Gary Verity, of Welcome to Yorkshire, and Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme dismissed concerns that the three-day international cycling race could be hit by unseasonal weather and told how they had harboured ambitions to stage a race through the area for years.
Welcome to Yorkshire's Gary Verity and Tour de France race organiser Christian Prudhomme visit Yorks cafe in Thirsk to witness the huge amount of work that has gone into celebrating the Tour de Yorkshire passing through the town on Sunday. Picture: CHRIS BOOTH
The pair stopped at the area's biggest tourist attraction, the World of James Herriot museum, to talk to Thirsk Community Primary School pupils about the land artworks they had created before meeting members of the yarn bombing team that covered the town centre in woolly designs last weekend.
Sir Gary said: "I have been completely stunned by the level of effort people have gone to, obviously with the yarn bombing, which is incredible, with all the bunting, all the bikes, the efforts businesses have gone to. How the community's come together and done this is really quite remarkable.
"I was told that there was going to be yarn bombing and that it was significant, but it's only when you see it. I am always in awe of people with the imagination to come up with such ideas.
"I've always known Thirsk is fully behind the race, firstly they asked me to have the Tour de France come here and then the Tour de Yorkshire, so we are delighted to finally come here. I hope the weather behaves itself so the rest of the world can see Thirsk in all its glory."
When asked if he was concerned about the freezing weather, Sir Gary replied that only "three foot of snow" would prevent the race going ahead.
He added: "We are delighted to be coming up Sutton Bank, we have looked at it before and seen whether we could fit it into other routes, but it's not been possible.
"For many people the view to Sutton Bank and from the top of Sutton Bank is a really significant and important one. In many ways it is the iconic image of Yorkshire, so to be able to take that in is remarkable."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here