Gary Verity

Perhaps the dinner guest fans of British cycle sport would most like to be seated next to. If your post-Christmas return to work will be marked by a busy year ahead, spare a thought for this man, who will lead a team preparing to host not one, but two stages of the world’s biggest annual sporting event. When the Tour de France comes to Leeds on Saturday July 5, 2014, the eyes of the world will be watching. No pressure.

If Verity and his colleagues are to be judged on their performance to date, however, we’re in safe hands. Constructing a bid deemed impressive enough to bring the Tour back to British shores just seven years after its last visit has been an excellent start. Delivering “the grandest of Grand Departs” – Verity’s pledge to ASO chief, Christian Prudhomme – will, however, be considerably more challenging. A glance at the profile of stages one and two, particularly the run from York to Sheffield on the second day, however, reveals that at the very least, the parcours will be up to scratch.

Topics to address Verity with while the mince pies are passed might include the moment at which he became convinced Yorkshire could realistically hope to host the Tour. What provisions has he been asked to make by the world’s best riders, who will be eager to ride the stages between now and next July? And what of the day of the Grand Depart? Will Verity have any chance to enjoy it? Or will it be all hands to the pump until the world’s biggest bike race leaves Yorkshire? 2014 will hold new challenges for all of us. Few, however, are likely to be as daunting as that faced by Verity.