Tour de France general director Christian Prudhomme visited County Hall this afternoon as part of a tour de Essex.

He stopped off in Chelmsford to meet county councillor Ann Naylor, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, councillor Ray Gooding, cabinet member for education and lifelong learning, and Jason Fergus, head of Active Essex, as part of his tour of the Stage 3 route, which runs through Essex on its journey from Cambridge to London on July 7.

Christian Prudhomme was also joined by two Essex Inspired Athletes – Lana Redgewell, 18 who attends Braintree College, and Shane Redgewell, 15 who attends Notley High School, both part of Braintree BMX Club.

The peloton will race through South Cambridgeshire via the A1301 taking in the villages including Trumpington, Great Shelford and Hinxton, before entering Essex at Saffron Walden. It will pass through Radwinter, The Sampfords, Felsted and Finchingfield.

Mr Prudhomme said that after leaving Cambridge “the race moves on to Essex to showcase the county’s beautiful towns, villages and countryside, before moving onto London for a spectacular finish on the Mall – seven years to the day after the 2007 Grand Départ”.

He added: “We are proud to come back to London and the UK, which will provide an incredible backdrop for the Tour.”

Cllr Naylor said: “It was wonderful to meet Mr Prudhomme, who was able to see via his tour that Essex is truly one of most unique and beautiful areas of the country.

“I am thrilled about the great things the Tour de France will bring to our county and am sure the international cyclists will receive an enthusiastic welcome from all Essex residents who watch the race.”

The Grand Départ will race 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.