Bradford-based motors group JCT600 joined forces with tourism body Welcome to Yorkshire to enable champion cyclist Jonny Clay and race organiser Giles Pidcock to ride in style at the recent DM Keith Skoda Otley Cycle Races.

Jonny, a silver medallist at the Commonwealth Games and bronze winner at the Sydney Olympics, is director of British Cycling and was a passenger in one of JCT600’s specially-liveried Grand Depart Golf Cabriolets which the firm has provided to the tourism agency as part of the Tour de France publicity caravan.

Jonny was among the celebrities in the vehicles following the riders in the annual Otley event, which included the opening round of the British Cycling Elite circuit race series and an elite women’s event.

John Tordoff, JCT600 chief executive, said, “Otley Cycle Races is one of the high points of the UK cycling year. It’s great to be playing a part in the build-up to the Tour de France 2014, when the eyes of cycling enthusiasts worldwide will be on the region.”

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, added: “Yorkshire’s Grand Depart moment has already begun. Tour fever has gripped the county, and cycling mad locations like Otley will have a big part to play as we build towards next summer, as will JCT600 who are already playing a starring role in the official caravan of the Tour de France.”

Next year, the six specially-liveried cars from JCT600 will join around 140 others from the Tour’s sponsors in the cavalcade which will feature during the Grand Depart.