MORE than 1,000 businesses have attended a series of roadshows about how to get involved with the Tour de France in Yorkshire in July 2014.

The roadshows aimed to show businesses how they can benefit from the economic impact of hosting the Grand Départ, which is estimated to be worth at least £100 million to the Yorkshire economy.

Sean McFetrich, director of commercial operations at Ampleforth Abbey, one of the businesses which is hoping to benefit, said: “The potential for Ampleforth to make links between the monks’ French heritage, our beer, formerly known as ‘la bière anglaise’, and the super cycling routes nearby is exciting.”

Paul Theakston, chairman of the Black Sheep Brewery, hosted the latest roadshow at the Masham brewery.

He said: “The Tour De France is the world’s largest annual sporting event and is completely free for people to see, so it is a hugely exciting thing for it to be coming to Yorkshire. The route passes by the Black Sheep Brewery visitors’ centre and we can’t wait to be involved.”

Further roadshows will be held in Ripon today, and in Whitby on June 12.