It's going to cause mayhem, but it will be worth it, the former Tour de France winner, Stephen Roche, said yesterday when final details of the event's Irish stages were announced yesterday in Dublin.
More than a million people are expected to watch the third-biggest sporting event in the world after the World Cup and the Olympics when Ireland hosts Le Grand Depart of this year's race on July 11th, 12th and 13th.
With a global television audience of 950 million tuning in, the benefits to the country's tourism industry are expected to be enormous.
But not everyone is happy with the arrangements. Despite the organisers' claim that the tour will bring half-a-million pedestrians into the city centre over the weekend of July 11th and 12th, Dublin Chamber of Commerce insisted yesterday that traders would suffer from the "excessive" traffic restrictions.
Mr Roche, speaking at Dublin Castle, which will be the tour's headquarters in Ireland, acknowledged that the event would cause "mayhem", including parking and traffic restrictions.
"But I would say to everybody, `Row in behind it'. We don't know when, if ever, the Tour de France will come to Ireland again. The disruption it will cause is minimal compared to the gains for the Irish economy and Irish tourism."
Dr McDaid said there were two main areas of return on the Government's [£2.1 million] sponsorship. "Firstly there is the immediate expenditure next month in terms of travel, accommodation, food and services. Secondly there are the publicity and future benefits that will flow from imprinting a favourable and lasting image of Ireland in the minds of millions of overseas viewers."
However, the chief executive of Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Mr Noel Carroll, said the restrictions were designed to prevent, rather than facilitate, access to city shops. "You won't get many shoppers coming in to Brown Thomas when they have to walk from Donnybrook.
"There is a complete closed circuit from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. when it could be done from one o'clock until six. We've organised big events in Dublin without alienating people, but there is a danger of this happening this time, and that's a pity."
The race will start in Dublin on July 11th when the 3.5-mile prologue time trial takes place from College Green to O'Connell Street, via Nassau Street, Merrion Square, Leeson Street, Kevin Street and Ormond Quay.
Stage one the following day will start in O'Connell Street, head for Co Wicklow and return to the capital with the final 4.3 miles in a "finishing circuit" in Phoenix Park. For stage two on July 13th, the tour runs from Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, to Cork.
Mr Roche, whose status as 1987 winner of the event helped to bring the event to Ireland, is back on board the organising team after a public falling out with L'Evenement.
He said yesterday he had settled his differences with Mr Pat McQuaid and his partner, Mr Alan Rushton, "over a pint".
