ORGANISERS of the next year’s Tour de France Grand Depart have brushed off criticism from the Government and a police commissioner over its preparations to host the race.

After announcing that 15,000 people have signed up to support the event as 'Le Tour Makers' at Welcome to Yorkshire’s annual conference, its chief executive Gary Verity invited sports minister Hugh Robertson to back the event.

On Tuesday Mr Robertson refused Government funding to cover the race’s costs and claimed the tourism agency’s plans would not deliver a world class event - only to be overruled next day by Culture Secretary Maria Miller, who pledged £10m.

Mrs Miller said the funding would not be given until Welcome to Yorkshire takes on new partners and demonstrates the event has a national scope.

However, the conference in Leeds heard that deputy prime minister Nick Clegg claim the event would bring “untold benefits”, while Olympic triathlon gold medallist Alistair Brownlee and Paralympian Hannah Cockcroft spoke of their delight that the world’s biggest annual sporting event would be on their doorstep.

Jean-Etienne Amaury, president of race organisers ASO, revealed how the excitement about a Yorkshire start to the race, which will be preceded by an eight-mile entertainments caravan including 185 vehicles, had crossed the Channel.

He said: “People in France are similarly excited, because British cycling has been doing extremely well for the past years, and particularly in the past year with Sir Bradley Wiggins winning the Tour de France.”

Mr Verity said: “We would love Hugh to come on board at some point if he wants to.

“The Government backed the Edinburgh grand depart bid and Hugh Robertson was a big advocate, even as the English sports minister, of the Scottish grand depart, so he is in a slightly difficult position and I guess he is still trying to work his way round that one.”

Mr Verity also dismissed claims by the North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan that the race organisers should help with the costs of policing the event, expected to draw crowds of three million people along the route in Yorkshire.

He said as there would be no charge to attend the race, the cost of policing should be borne by local forces as the Olympic Torch relay was.