The Tour de France may not be making a stop off in East Cambridgeshire but fans will get the opportunity to see the Grand Depart trophy as it visits the district on Thursday.

The trophy will be on display for people to see at Ely Cathedral from 3.30-5.30pm after spending the morning with pupils at Witchford Village College.

The trophy, commissioned by organisers of the tour and designed by award-winning French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, is held each year by the area or city hosting the start of the legendary cycle race.

So far the trophy has visited areas of Yorkshire and Essex before coming to East Cambs today.

Students at Witchford Village College will be first to get their hands on the trophy this morning and they are preparing to host a special French-themed day to welcome its arrival.

Then, from 3.30-5.30pm, the trophy will be on display in Ely Cathedral for visitors to admire.

Cllr Noel Kavanagh, from Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “It is a wonderful symbol of the Tour de France which we were determined to make available for as many people as possible to see.”

The race itself will take riders from Leeds to Harrogate on July 5, York to Sheffield on July 6, and a third stage will travel from Cambridge to London on July 7.

Beginning on Gonville Place by Parker’s Piece, the peloton will ride through the city centre, past the world famous colleges of St John’s, Trinity and King’s as they cycle along King’s Parade and Trumpington Street before leaving the city via Trumpington Road.

The peloton will then race through South Cambridgeshire via the A1301 before leaving the county via Saffron Walden and through Essex towards London to finish on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.

Exact details of the route can be found at online at www.letour.yorkshire.com.