MP for Leeds North West, Greg Mulholland, co-hosted a reception in Westminster to celebrate the Tour de France coming to Yorkshire in two weeks’ time.

As co-chairman of the parliamentary Tour de France group, Mulholland gave the opening speech at the reception which was attended by MPs, volunteers, businesses, and children from areas the Tour de France will be passing through.

He then handed over to Deputy Prime Minister and fellow Yorkshire MP, Nick Clegg, whose constituency is also along the race route. Speeches were then rounded off by CEO of Welcome to Yorkshire, Gary Verity.

Also attending the reception were constituents from Otley, Joseph Cullen and his 11-year-old son Daniel, both of whom got the chance to meet and have their photo taken with the Deputy Prime Minister.

Daniel had earlier in the day taken part in and won a Leeds primary school TDF cycle race at Temple Newsam, receiving a congratulatory round of applause from all attendees when Mr Mulholland mentioned it in his speech.

After the reception, Greg said: “The reception was a great opportunity to get volunteers and organisers together and celebrate the upcoming Tour de France. I would like to thank all the volunteers for helping to support this fantastic event. I would also like to thank Gary Verity and the rest of the Welcome to Yorkshire team, and Sir Rodney Walker, Nicky Roche and the Tour de France team. Without all their hard work and support the Grand Départ and the Tour de Yorkshire will not be the success that I’m sure it will be.

“We must follow up the success of the Tour de France by ensuring a cycling legacy in Yorkshire is secured. We need to encourage more people to take up cycling, whether for leisure or for travelling to work. Increased investment in cycling infrastructure here in Leeds is definitely needed, and I will continue to campaign for more cycle lanes and safer cycling.”

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “It was a terrific event for the people of Yorkshire who have worked so hard to make the dream of staging the Grand Départ a reality, and great to see all the cycling clubs, businesses and young people who are involved in the build up to the race.

“We are grateful to the Deputy Prime Minister for taking time out of his busy schedule to host us and we look forward to welcoming him to Yorkshire for the Grand Départ.”