News next July’s Tour de France will indeed race through the heart of Keighley district has generated a wave of excitement.

Confirmation was officially announced following the 2014 Tour launch in Paris last Wednesday.

Shortly afterwards, a route map was made available on the Le Tour Yorkshire website, displaying which roads will feature in the world-famous race.

Tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire led the winning bid to bring the Tour’s Grand Depart to the county.

Chief executive, Gary Verity, said: “The riders will be encouraged and applauded by millions of fans. They will discover landscapes of unexpected beauty.

“Yorkshire’s will be the greatest Grand Depart in the history of the Tour de France.

“We will raise the bar for all future hosts with our cultural festival 100 days before the race, two stunning stages and a legacy that leaves a cycling imprint on the county that lasts for generations.

“The Grand Depart will put York-shire on the map as a destination capable of hosting world class events, providing a springboard to greater things. We are excited, we are proud and we are ready to welcome the world.”

Le Tour director, Christian Prud-homme, said: “We are excited to take Le Tour back to Britain again. I know the Grand Depart in Yorkshire will be visually stunning and technically challenging.

“The British cycling fans are passionate people, and I am sure they will line the routes of the three stages cheering the teams and riders all the way from Yorkshire to London, providing an unforgettable start to the 2014 Tour.”

Responding to the launch, 2013 Tour winner, Chris Froome, said: “I was bowled over at the support we had in France, so I can only imagine what it is going to be like over in Yorkshire.”

Bradford Council leader, Councillor David Green, said: “People from all over the world will see just how splendid the countryside is around Ilkley, Keighley and Haworth when the tour travels through this area.

“It is bound to raise our profile and entice visitors from near and afar for many years to come.

“This really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for people in and around Yorkshire to see the greatest annual sporting event up close and personal.”

Bradford Council strategic director for environment and sport, Ian Bairstow, said: “With an event of this scale, a large amount of advance planning is essential, and we have already been working for some months with our partners, including the police, fire service, ambulance service, Metro, hospitals, businesses and tourist bodies, to ensure the event takes place as smoothly as possible.

“We are providing guidance for people who want to set up temporary camp sites or temporary car parks, and people can visit our website bradford.gov.uk/tourdefrance to find out more.”