Jeremy Clarkson. Mel B. Geoffrey Boycott. Yorkshire’s production line of famous people reads like a who’s who of Britain’s biggest arseholes. And we’ve not even mentioned Jimmy Savile.
But this month, the nation’s most tight-fisted county is set to become famous for more than just a few shit football clubs and the world’s most underwhelming pudding when the Tour de France kicks off in Leeds. And no, we don’t understand why a French cycling race always starts in another country either. Still, it’s a chance for Yorkshire to show its cultured side and shed the image of the flat-cap wearing whippet owner who moans about how much things cost.
Alas, this has been undermined slightly by the Yorkshire Evening Post constantly moaning about the overall cost of staging the event and the price of tickets for the opening ceremony.
“These events are traditionally free. With the exception of the one in 2011 they do not charge people for these things,” whined Philip McDonald, a sociology of sport lecturer at Leeds Trinity University, about the $45 to $85 tickets. “It does seem otherwise free events are being priced out of the range of the majority of families.”
The paper has also taken aim at the cost of the event, variously claiming that Leeds City Council has spent $2.5million, $3.2million and $4.5million on it.
“The whole thing is a con. What did you expect?” said one angry reader, possibly while drinking stout. Another added: “Rip-off Britain is alive and well!”
Of course, the tourism and cultural benefits the tour will bring to the area have been completely overlooked, presumably because locals are angry that the money wasn’t used to pay for another four series of Last of the Summer Wine.
And if the cyclists get a little saddle sore between the cheeks, they’d best not ask for some “arse cream” in Yorkshire or they’ll be handed a Cornetto.

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