00:00We've now got less than a year to go until the Tour de France Femme Avic Swift.
00:04Leeds is going to be on that cycling map once again.
00:07Obviously, we know the success, all the pictures, the film from 2014.
00:11Now we get to do all of that again, but this time with the Tour de France Femme,
00:15the world's best female cyclist here in Leeds, racing across the Pennines to Manchester.
00:21We've got two races, one Grand Par, six days of racing each end of next July.
00:26You know, it's so exciting to be involved with having such a big event.
00:31Everyone knows about the Tour de France. Everyone recognises the yellow colour.
00:34You know, so it would be great to have that spirit, you know, rekindle that spirit of, say, 2014, 2007,
00:40even way back in 1994 and the very first Tour de France, Men's Tour de France, that came to Plymouth
00:45way back.
00:46I have the best job at the Grand Par because I'm the volunteer lead,
00:49which means I get to support this amazing opportunity to happen for 9,000 people across England, Scotland and Wales
00:57to all come together, show off where they live, including beautiful Leeds, obviously,
01:02and get to be involved in this mega event that is coming to the UK.
01:06I think it's been quite tough in the UK in recent years.
01:09And so to have something that is free to watch, that people can meet others who live near them
01:16that they may have never have met before, and get to take part in something that could be going right
01:20past their house
01:21is really special and really unique.
01:23Seeing the teams on the podium, seeing all of those preparations,
01:26and of course just the build-up to the star itself,
01:28that excitement of when the flag drops on the head row and the race rolls out.
01:32It will then roll out through Leeds City Centre, all in a neutralised section,
01:36and we go out through Headingley, Kirkstall and Bramley, and out then into Kirkley's.
01:42The real detailed route will be published in October,
01:44and then obviously heads across the Pennines to the finish in Manchester.
01:47Our volunteers for the Grand Par are called Joymakers.
01:51So the clue is in the title of what we're looking for, really,
01:54is for people who are happy to come and celebrate
01:58and spread the joy of cycling to those that they meet.
02:01We're going to expect a lot of visitors from all around the world coming to Leeds and other places,
02:06and so to have that joy spread is going to be really special.
02:10It's lovely to hear from volunteers all the amazing stories of why people do want to get involved.
02:15People that were here in Leeds in 2014 had an amazing time,
02:19or came with their parent or grandparent, and now are old enough to get involved themselves.
02:23It's really special.
02:24We've got that worldwide television coverage, those pictures that go around the world
02:28showing Leeds, showing the famous buildings,
02:31but also showing all of the areas as we go out from Kirklees,
02:34across the Pennines, that fantastic countryside that we've been around the world.
02:37Once again, people are going to be looking and going,
02:40wow, doesn't Yorkshire look amazing?
02:42I might go there on holiday.
02:43I might go there for a day out,
02:44but also showcasing the community and the spirit,
02:47which I think is a big, big part of this,
02:48the civic pride, getting people involved.
02:51And it's just a great way to shout about your community,
02:54your town, your city, your county, but even just Britain.
02:57Britain on the map and going, isn't Britain great?
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