The Bradford district is being considered for part of the route as Yorkshire bids to host the opening stages of the 2016 Tour de France.

Talks have started between destination-management organisation Welcome to Yorkshire and the Tour’s Paris-based organising committee.

The discussions are being centred around the Grand Départ – the opening two days of racing – which are held in a new location outside France every two years.

The bid submitted for consideration proposes Leeds city centre as the starting destination from which the 22 teams would weave their way to the Yorkshire Dales.

Welcome to Yorkshire head of communications Dee Marshall said: “No exact routes have been decided but I would say Bradford and its surrounding towns and villages would have a fair chance of being in there.

“The tour’s organisers are coming over later in the year to have a look at what we’re proposing.”

After leaving the Dales the route would head east to Scarborough and the coast, via York and the North York Moors, before dropping south to Hull and finally to Sheffield.

The racing would be spread over two days covering 180km a day with Leeds hosting a festival of entertainment in the city centre to welcome the teams and Tour followers.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “I can reveal Yorkshire’s bid has been positively received by the organising committee at this stage.

“Yorkshire is a world-class destination experienced at successfully hosting world-class events. We believe it will provide the perfect backdrop to the world’s greatest cycle race, producing the best international Grand Départ the Tour de France has seen yet.

“The economic impact for Yorkshire will be tremendous and we will do everything we can to make sure the event comes here.”

  • Read the full story in Monday's T&A