The confirmation of the 2014 Tour de France’s route on Wednesday held no big surprises for Wharfedale.

What it did do, though, by spelling out exactly where spectators can cheer on their favourites, was ratchet up the expectation even further for what will undoubtedly be the area’s biggest sporting event for generations.

Otley, in particular, has been riding the crest of a cycling wave ever since the sport was given a boost by hometown heroine Lizzie Armitstead’s silver medal exploits in the London 2012 Olympics.

And the news at the beginning of this year that the Grand Depart, Le Tour’s opening stage, would incorporate the town – along with Harewood, Arthington, Pool-in-Wharfedale and Ilkley – simply built upon that.

With the sport’s popularity already at an all-time high, 2014 represents a great chance for cycling to be adopted by even greater numbers of people, spurred on by the sight of some of the world’s greatest riders competing on their own streets. That would, in terms of raising the fitness and improving the overall health of the local community, represent a legacy of which we could all be proud.

Heart surgery review must be seen as impartial

It was just months ago that the Safe and Sustainable review into children’s heart surgery was suspended after being labelled flawed and ill-judged.

And now suspicions of bias are hanging over a new review as an MP claims the same mistakes are happening again.

Greg Mulholland has criticised the make-up of the new advisory panel for the review, and is particularly critical of the choice of Anne Keatley-Clarke, the Chief Executive of the Children’s Heart Federation, who had previously made statements supporting the closure of the Leeds unit.

A spokesman for the Federation has expressed disappointment at the MP’s comments and has stressed that the charity’s interests are purely and simply what is best for children and parents.

This is clearly the case – but it is also essential that this latest review should be untainted by any trace of suspicion or alleged bias.

For the sake of the review and of all involved the advisory panel have to be seen to be completely and utterly impartial.