Tour de France was 'fantastic day for the city'

Tour de France riders passing through Cambridge in 2014

It is a decade since the Tour de France rolled through a university city well-known for its many cyclists.

The third stage of the world famous event took riders through Cambridge in 2014, passing some of its most famous colleges, before heading south through Essex to London.

Neil Jones, who ran communications for Cambridge City Council at the time, said it was "a fantastic day for the city".

But keen cyclist Phil Mynott, who watched the peloton pass from a plum spot on King's Parade, said he was disappointed the occasion had not had a long-term impact on cycling.

Phil Mynott secured a view above the Corpus Christi College clock on King's Parade to snap this image

"I don't think officially there's been a lot of support, there's more to be done for cycling," he said.

"There's a lot more people cycling anyway in the UK - but the sort of traditional cycle clubs I grew up, they haven't seen a massive upturn in members."

However, "the number of British riders that take part in the Tour de France just blows your mind", he admitted.

That includes Mark Cavendish, who made Tour de France history on Wednesday by winning a record 35th stage.

The riders moved slowly through Cambridge before the racing their way through Essex villages to arrive in London

Back in 2014, Cavendish crashed out of the race near the finish line during the first stage and injured his shoulder, ending his involvement.

Mr Mynott grew up in a family of keen cyclists and his road first bike was bought from a long-gone bike shop on King's Parade when he was 10.

"If someone had told me that one day the biggest cycling event would come along this very road, we would have just laughed," he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Jones recalled how "we've got Yorkshire to thank" for hosting the event, after now defunct tourist body Welcome to Yorkshire persuaded the Tour de France organisers to hold its opening stages in the county.

"When they were mapping it out, it needed to end in London, so Cambridge ended up on the route," he said.

Planning for the event took more than a year, including visits to Leeds and France.

He said "Cambridge is known as a cycling city, but I think when something of that magnitude hits, people don't forget it."

The third stage of the race in 2014 was won after a sprint finish by Germany's Marcel Kittel

Eileen Wilson volunteered as one of the so-called Tour Makers, volunteers who offered a welcome to visitors, supported the emergency services and were a friendly and reassuring face at the event.

She arrived hours early to take up her post on Sydney Street and she loved "chatting to people who were really excited" by the event.

She feels "there are improvements for cyclists in the city, but I wouldn't attribute that directly to a legacy of the Tour de France, but there's definitely more cycle lanes".