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Typically the grand départ has an opening day prologue – a short city centre time-trial designed to showcase the host location – followed the next day a full length stage although, as is the case this year, it can be two out-and-out stage races if the terrain is challenging enough. Both Glasgow and Edinburgh are likely to be involved in the bid and given the topography around both cities the Tour de France organisers will have plenty of options. While Spyns only offers Tour de France trips during the final week of the race, I applaud the initiative although Scotland is a bit far from continental Europe. Historically, the French enjoy needling the English and do so by supporting mildly nationalist groups in Scotland and Quebec (Canada) for example so this is right up their alley.
Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), the organisers of the Tour de France, are known to be looking for suitable overseas start venues and were particularly encouraged by the outstanding success of the 2007 Tour from London when some of the biggest crowds in the race's history flocked to watch the action. A host city will have to bid between £5-10m ($8-$12 million) to host the start of the Tour but with the world's media in attendance, the huge race day crowds and the associated commerce as the Tour de France circus hits town for three or four days the economic benefit is calculated at being between £75-100m ($100-$130 million).
EventScotland chief operating officer Paul Bush said: "The Tour de France is an obvious fit for Scotland. "We can certainly operate it logistically, we've got a fantastic cycling heritage, we've had fantastic cycling performances in the last few years and in terms of visual pictures for the Tour and challenges for the riders it would be absolutely outstanding." Officials from EventScotland officials first met informally with Tour director Christian Prudhomme at the 2007 Rugby World Cup and have met him again recently about the prospect of taking the Tour to Scotland although the competition will be fierce with Prudhomme also fielding enquiries from Japan, the Middle East and the east coast of the United States.
Rotterdam in Holland hosted the 2010 grand départ, while this year's race will begin in the Vendée region of western France. Bush hopes the impact in Scotland could be similar to when London hosted the 2007 grand départ: "I went to London a couple of years ago and saw it and it blew me away – it was amazing. I would hope if we're successful in winning this bid in 2012 or 2013, it then gives us a three- or four-year run-in to develop a greater culture of cycling and then when the Tour comes it gives it an added boost." While Spyns won't be offering Tour de France grand depart trips, having a few kilts mixed with bike shorts wouldn't be a bad thing.
Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.
