TOUR De France fever has reached York’s Cedar Court Hotel.

Welcome To Yorkshire’s Gary Verity took to the saddle as part of the hotel’s Grand Départ Cycle Challenge which will see staff cycling 2,276 miles - the length of the 2014 edition of the famous race - on two exercise bikes in the hotel’s main reception area.

They are cycling in 30 minute time slots to raise money for York Hospital’s charity.

General manager Maria Florou said: “The Tour de France coming to the region has fuelled people’s passions and imaginations so it seemed the perfect opportunity for us take on this challenge and highlight the fantastic work carried out by the York Teaching Hospital Charity.”

Donations can be made directly at the hotel, by text (text “GRND50 £” and the amount you want to donate to 70070) or via the Just Giving website: http://www.justgiving.com/TheCedarCourtGrand.

Meanwhile, the Russian Tour De France team, Team Katusha, has checked-in to the Cedar Court. Harrogate.