The first stage of the 2014 Tour de France  came to Upper Wharfedale on the 5th July 2014. The area won the honour of hosting the opening stage of the world's most famous cycle race beating competition from Berlin, Barcelona, Venice, Edinburgh and Utrecht.

The village of Buckden at the top of Wharfedale was the ideal place to watch and enjoy the Tour - The Kidstones Pass out of Wharfedale ( the "Côte de Cray" ) was teh first King of the Mountains climb of the tour, and the area boasts stunning views, great places to stay and to eat and so much more.