PEOPLE “The public sector really rose to the


challenge of the Tour de France” Nicky Roche, CEO, TdFHUB


T


he Tour de France's fi rst three stages in England this summer were hailed as the "grandest opening in the race’s history,” by


race director Christian Prudhomme. It is estimated that more than 4 million people packed the sides of roads dur- ing the fi rst three days, which saw the riders travel from York to London. Lavishing praise on the public who lined the roads as well as the English organising team, the Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme said it is not a question of “if but when” the Tour returns to British shores. The TdFHUB, a subsidiary of UK


Sport, was led by Yorkshire-born Nicky Roche. A keen sports fan, Roche’s journey to lead the TdFHUB is a curious one, but demonstrates her passion for sport.


“I had been working for the Home


Offi ce as a civil servant for quite a time when, in 2004, I saw the role of director of sport advertised in The Sunday Times.” Roche said. “I


ISSUE 4 2014 © cybertrek 2014


Nicky Roche was appointed chief executive of the TdF HUB 2014 in August 2013


thought it was my ideal job but that I’d never get it – until the DCMS’ per- manent secretary, Sue Street, called and encouraged me to go for it.” At the DCMS, Roche worked closely with Tessa Jowell and was part of the team that worked on the


winning 2012 London Olympic bid. In 2007, she was named a direc- tor at the Government Olympic Executive (GOE), where Roche worked closely with all stakehold- ers – LOCOG, ODA and GLA – and helped shape the Olympic journey from start to fi nish. “My responsibili- ties for the 2012 project didn’t come to an end until March 2013 when the handover to Rio was completed,” she said. Soon after, in August 2013, she was appointed as CEO of TdFHUB. One of the fi rst tasks Roche faced was to work with the French team to get the fi nal route confi rmed. “Once that was done, we could then start planning where the crowds would be, how we would be able to get them in and out safely and so on,” she said. The most rewarding aspect for Roche was the public’s reaction to the event. “Watching the huge crowds line the route pretty much from start to fi nish was amazing,” she said.


uksport.gov.uk Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 11


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