GCC cyclists depart today from the Arabian dunes to the Yorkshire dales on a cycling trip inspired by the Grand Départ of the 2014 Tour de France. The British countryside, famous for its outstanding natural beauty, will take centre stage in this fascinating journey.
The trip is part of VisitBritain’s “Dunes to Dales” initiative launched in the GCC this summer through a digital campaign hosted on a dedicated website www.dunestodales.com. Visitors to the website were asked to vote for one of two routes for the GCC cyclists to take on their upcoming tour. The route that inspired the most votes is the route that covers parts of the first stage of the Grand Départ.
On this route the cyclists will start from the host city of Leeds and finish in the historic spa town of Harrogate. The trip will be documented on film and the cyclists news will be updated on social media channels. Their fans and followers will be able to follow in their footsteps via a dedicated hash tag #dunestodales.
In addition to cycling, the group will explore other thrills including a bespoke treasure hunting trip courtesy of Yorkshire Trails; a visit to the magnificent Aysgarth Fallsin Wensleydale, home of the famous cheese that goes by the same name; and a chance to explore the unique Ripely Castle that has been occupied by the same Ingilby family for more than 700 years.
Emirati cyclist, Abdul Ghaffar Al-Khaja was joined in Dubai by his GCC counterparts, Mohamed Al-Kuwari from Qatar, Abdulaziz Al-Dawsari from Saudi Arabia and Othman Al Mutairi from Kuwait. Here they will begin their journey from the dunes to the dales in the care of VisitBritain supported by the UK Embassy in the UAE and Etihad Airways.
HM Consul General, Edward Hobart, commented: “I’m delighted to see Emirati cyclist Abdul Ghaffar Al-Khaja and his counterparts in the gulf region participate in VisitBritain’s initiative Dunes to Dales. Sport offers an excellent way of bringing young people together and showcasing the beauty of our countryside”.
Annique Labuschagne, Manager GCC Markets, remarked: “VisitBritain is aiming through this initiative to showcase the British countryside to GCC visitors. The journey that will take the cyclists from the Arabian Dunes to the Yorkshire Dales is a fun and exciting adventure that we are hoping will bring Britain’s countryside closer to our GCC visitors.”
“Britain has so much to offer, we want visitors from the GCC to have a great time and try something new every time they come to the UK,” added Labuschagne.
Supported by RIDE, the cyclists are scheduled to warm up on Dubai’s Al Qudra Cycling Track later today ahead of their travel.
