Official spectator hubs for the Tour de France 2014
28th March 2014
The official Tour de France spectator hubs for Stages 1 and 2 were announced on Wednesday 26th March 2014. These are locations along the route of the race where there will be facilities for spectators, including big screens, food and entertainment. Admission is free.
They are not the only spectator events - others will be put on by local authorities, community groups, and private organisations. The difference is that the TDF Hub 2014 Ltd will help fund the official spectator hubs out of their budget for hosting the 2014 race, and the hubs will appear in all the official Tour de France brochures and publicity.
You can see the locations of the hubs on the official Tour interactive map.
(See also official spectator hubs on Stage 3).
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: Victoria Gardens, The Headrow, Leeds
The Victoria Gardens spectator hub, in front of the Art Gallery on The Headrow, Leeds will be the first official spectator hub on the route (open 5th July 2014). The capacity is 25,000 people, and this is where the teams will sign in. There'll be room for another 20,000 people on the initial part of the route along Eastgate, Regent St, and Sheepscar St South. (The map below indicates the route out of Leeds in yellow).
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: Scott Hall playing fields, Leeds
On the way out of Leeds, the Scott Hall playing fields spectator hub (open 5th July 2014) will be a family-friendly location with a capacity of 10,000 plus. For people with younger children, this hub will probably be better than the city centre, as the children can run around on the playing fields. There'll be on-site parking and catering, disabled and cycling provision, a big screen, and activities for children and families, including British Cycling Go Ride.
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: Otley town centre
The Otley spectator hub (5th July 2014) is in the town centre, and will have a capacity of 15,000. There'll be a double-sided screen and cycle racks. The town has plenty of shops and cafes for food and drink.
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: Riverside Gardens, Ilkley
The spectator hub at Riverside Gardens, Ilkley (capacity 13,000) will run for 4 days from Thursday 3rd to Sunday 6th July 2014. There'll be a large car park, disabled access, cycle parking facilities, food stalls, and two big screens.
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: Skipton
The Skipton High Street spectator hub will be open on 5th July 2014, with a capacity of 12,000. There'll be family-friendly activities, big screens showing the race during the day and films in the evening, a stage with music and entertainment, and street entertainment. The hub will be managed by Pennine Events.
Craven District Council says the stage and big screen will be in the Town Hall car park. There'll also be a big screen and family-friendly activities at the Canal Basin. This will leave more room for spectators on the High Street. You can see these locations, and the Tour route through Skipton (indicated in yellow), on this map:
Update: Craven DC has a Skipton spectator hub page on its website. It says the compere at the hub will be professional cycling commentator Carl Lawrenson. The entertainment includes a balloon modeller, BMX stunt skills, live music, bike simulators, and walkabout acts.
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: National Park Centre, Grassington
Grassington National Park spectator hub can host 2,000 people on 5th July 2014. It's a bit more than 1km from the route. There are disabled facilities, toilets, and there'll be a big screen. This is one of the most picturesque parts of the route.
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: National Park Visitor Centre, Aysgarth
The spectator hub at Aysgarth National Park centre will be open to 1,500 people on 5th July 2014. It'll have limited parking, toilets, food, viewing areas, and a big screen.
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: National Park Visitor Centre, Hawes
Hawes National Park centre spectator hub (5th July 2014) can accommodate 3,000 people. It's close to the Buttertubs climb. There are toilets, a viewing area, and big screen.
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: Market Place, Leyburn
Leyburn Market Place spectator hub will have space for 10,000 people, when the Tour comes through on 5th July 2014. There'll be a big screen, and organised family activities.
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: Ripon Market Place & Racecourse
Ripon has two spectator hubs, either side of the route. The Yorkshire Tour website says the hubs will 'span the route', so it must be possible to walk between the two venues. The market place will be closed to traffic on Saturday 5th July. At the hubs, there'll be market stalls (market place), big screens, catering, children's activities, and live entertainment, with the party continuing into the evening.
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: West Park, Harrogate
The spectator hub on West Park Stray in Harrogate will be running from Thursday 3rd to Sunday 6th July 2014. It is to be a Tour de France Fan Park run by VeloGoGo, with Tour de France merchandise, food stalls, local market produce, live music, cinema screenings, and a big screen. We previously reported on arrangements in Harrogate town centre for the Tour, including the spectator stands at the finish line, the spectator hub and big screens, road resurfacing and street furniture, and road closures and parking restrictions.
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: York racecourse
The spectator hub at York racecourse will be open to 25,000 people from Thursday 3rd to Monday 7th July 2014. The free tickets for the start of Stage 2 on Sunday 6th July 2014 have already gone. There'll be food stalls, big screens, and camping.
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: Huntingdon Stadium, York
Huntingdon Stadium, home of York City Knights rugby league club, replaces the spectator hub originally planned at Monk Stray. It'll be open on 6th July, and have a capacity of 6,000+. There'll be a big screen, cycle stunt show cycling activities, and food and drink. There's a Park & Ride nearby, it's close to the ring road, and there are a number of cycle paths around here.
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: York Designer Outlet, York
The York Designer Outlet spectator hub will be open to 3,000 people on Sunday 6th July 2014. There'll be a big screen, street theatre, cycling entertainment, stalls, and other fun activities. There's also parking, glamping, camping, and campervan facilities in nearby fields. This hub is not on the Tour route.
There's also a community event in Rowntree Park, York, with a big screen to watch Stage 2, and space for 3,000 people.
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: Knaresborough Castle
The Knaresborough Castle spectator hub will have a capacity of 4,000, and it'll be open on 5th & 6th July. It's a few hundered metres from the route of Stage 2 on Sunday 6th July 2014. The Le Tour website describes it as a 'prime viewing location' so presumably you can see the riders go past from here.
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: Victoria Park, Keighley
The spectator hub at Victoria Park, Keighley will be open on 5th & 6th July 2014 to 4,500+ people. It's about 1km away from the route of Stage 2, and will have disabled facilities, toilets, a big screen, and a funfair.
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: Central Park, Haworth
Haworth Central Park spectator hub is to be open on 5th & 6th July 2014, and space is limited to 4,000 people. There'll be disabled access, a big screen, food stalls, stalls selling local produce, and children's activities.
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: Calder Holmes Park, Hebden Bridge
Calder Holmes Park spectator hub, Hebden Bridge, is between the river Calder and the Rochdale Canal, very close to the route of Stage 2 of the Tour de France 2014, on Sunday 6th July. It'll have a big screen, locally produced food, and entertainment. The capacity is 5,000.
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: St George's Square, Huddersfield
The spectator hub at St George's Square, Huddersfield will be open to more than 10,000 people on 5th & 6th July 2014. It's in the centre of Huddersfield, so all the town centre facilities and shops will be available, plus a big screen and food stalls.
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: Sands Recreation Ground, Holmfirth
The Sands Recreation Ground, Holmfirth spectator hub will be open to 10,000+ people on 5th & 6th July 2014. The hub will be spread across streets and fields, and have disabled access, toilets, a big screen, and a local food and drink market. The Holmfirth Duck Race will also be taking place that weekend.
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: Coronation Park, Oughtibridge, Sheffield
The spectator hub at Coronation Park, Sheffield will be open on 6th July 2014, to 2,500+ people. Coronation Park is by the river Don in Oughtibridge, at the foot of the Côte d' Oughtibridge (or Jawbone Hill) climb from Oughtibridge to Grenoside (Category 3) on Stage 2. There'll be a big screen, disabled viewing, stalls, toilets, and a children's play area.
Official spectator hubs, Tour de France 2014: Don Valley Bowl, Sheffield
The spectator hub at Don Valley Bowl, Sheffield, close to the finish of Stage 2, will be open on Sunday 6th July 2014. Listed as having a capacity of 10,000 plus on the Tour website, media reports suggest it will in fact be the largest of the hubs, with room for 40,000 people.
This is a green space which will have disabled access, a big screen, and concessions. There's already an ice rink and cafe on site.
(See also spectator hubs on Stage 3).