Tour De France coming to Mexborough?

Cllr David Holland praised Labour leader and Mexborough MP Ed Miliband for putting the idea to French president Francois Hollande during a recent economic meeting.

He said: “This is a great initiative from Ed. Cycling is becoming very popular, particularly in the light of Bradley Wiggins’ recent victory in the tour.

“I’m sure that the people of Mexborough and Sprotbrough would turn out in their thousands to welcome the cyclists.

“It could also provide a much-needed boost to the local economy.”

Mr Miliband met with French president Francois Hollande just days after cyclist Bradley Wiggins became the first Brit to win the major sporting event.

He used the economy-themed meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris to lobby the president for the cycle race to visit Yorkshire, taking in his own constituency including Mexborough and Sprotbrough.

The Labour leader said: “At the end of the meeting, I mentioned Bradley Wiggins’ triumph and told the president about the bid being put forward by Yorkshire to host the initial two stages.

“He said that the Tour de France had gone through his constituency and I said I was looking forward to it hopefully going through mine.

“He seemed supportive of the idea. I know it’s not a decision for him, but it would be a great thing for it to come to Yorkshire.”

The Tour de France is an annual three-week race held in France and neighbouring countries.

The first two days of racing, the Grand Depart, are held in a new location outside France every two years.

Yorkshire is gearing up to bid against Barcelona, Venice, Berlin and Scotland to host the first two stages of the 2016 race.

The Yorkshire stages would run through cities and beauty spots including Leeds, York, Hull, Sheffield, Scarborough and the Yorkshire Dales.

Yorkshire’s bid has won support from 150,000 people, including cyclists Mark Cavendish and Yorkshireman Brian Robinson\_ — the first Briton ever to win a Tour de France stage in 1958.

Mr Miliband was in Paris after being invited to talk to the president about Europe’s role in tackling the financial crisis.

The Mexborough MP beat David Cameron to become the first senior British politician to hold talks with President Hollande in the Elysee Palace since his election in May.