Essex: Tour De France Route Revealed

23 October 2013, 13:14 | Updated: 23 October 2013, 13:22

The route of the 2014 Tour de France, which includes a stage through Essex, has been revealed by organisers today.

The 101st Tour starts in Leeds on July 5, features two stages in Yorkshire and a Cambridge to London third stage before transferring across the Channel.

Cycling star Mark Cavendish has a home in Ongar which is very close to the route, and speaking to Heart in Paris he said: "It gives me an opportunity to win a stage at home before we go to the mainland.

"The first stage is looking great for us and I'm really excited about it - I've got to start training for it now!"

The route enters Essex north of Saffron Walden, taking in places like Finchingfield, Felsted, Chelmsford and North Weald, leaving the county through Epping en route to London.

For two likely competitors the route through Essex will feel very close to home - Team Sky's Ian Stannard, who supported 2013 winner Chris Froome to the yellow jersey and Movistar's Alex Dowsett, who won a stage of the 2013 Tour of Italy, are both from Chelmsford.

County Councillor Ann Naylor, Cabinet Member for Public Health & Wellbeing said: "We're delighted to be able to say 'bienvenue' from Essex to a global audience of up to 3.5 billion people next July.

"This is yet another great sporting event to come to our county, building on our success with the Olympic Mountain Biking event and the Torch Relay for London 2012."