Feeding the 20,000 in true Yorkshire style

Jo Amess, the owner of event decorating firm Lusso Styling, and Lisa and Graham Thewlis-Hardy, who run A-Taste-Of-Italy Ice Cream Tricycles, will be serving up ice cream and Yorkshire sweets at the Barkisland section of the Grand Depart route at the top of the Cote de Ripponden climb.

It is expected that around 20,000 cycling fans will go along to watch the race there.

The trio have decorated their van using a range of recycled materials and have bought Yorkshire flags and Tour De France bunting to complete the look.

Ms Amess said: “Being Yorkshire, the challenge to ourselves was to decorate without spending.

We used yellow material I had, cut out letters from paper and painted with fence paint. We used our cycle helmets as plant holders and tea pots for vases – we don’t want people to forget they are in Yorkshire.

“I have grown up with cycling, both my brothers raced and still do.

“We watch the tour every year from the comfort of our armchairs but when we heard Le Tour was Yorkshire-bound, we just had to get involved and be a part of history.”

Ms Amess and Mr and Mrs Thewliss-Hardy will be climbing on top of their van to watch the tour as it passes.

Ms Amess said: “The viewing from Barkisland is perfect and we have prime spot - on top of our van, waving our Yorkshire flags as the race goes by.”