SIR – Way back I worked in TIR transport, and the trade in wool to the Roubaix area of Northern France was very strong indeed.

This may have contributed somewhat to the eventual civic twinning between Bradford and Roubaix. I also recall quite a few local cyclists going over to Roubaix every year in Springtime, and there’s the rub.

On April 12, the celebrated one-day Paris-Roubaix cycling race will take place. With a history of a century or more – it is affectionately referred to as ‘The Hell Of The North’, as 57 kilometres are over cobbles and in the wet it can be treacherous.

I read in the T&A last week of a local rider who will be tackling ‘the cobbles’ on the route for charity, which is fantastic.

However as cycling is the ‘new rock n roll’ for many councils, in view of last year’s Grand Depart last year and the upcoming Tour de Yorkshire, are Bradford not missing out big time in failing to nurture its historic tie with Roubaix?

John Murphy, Cooper Lane, Bradford