Tour de France bosses honoured for role in bringing Grand Depart to Edinburgh in historic move
Christian Prudhomme and Paul Bush was recognised during the university’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, October 28
Two Tour de France bosses have received honorary degrees from Edinburgh Napier University, in recognition of their role in bringing the race’s Grand Depart to the Scottish capital next summer.
Tour de France general director Christian Prudhomme and Grand Depart GB 2027 managing director Paul Bush were both recognised during graduation ceremonies in the Usher Hall on Wednesday.
The pair have been instrumental in bringing the event to Edinburgh for the first time in its 124-year history.
The opening ceremony and official presentation of the riders will take place on Edinburgh Castle Esplanade on June 30, when fans will get a chance to see the world’s top elite road cyclists and their teams.
The full route for the Tour de France Grand Depart was revealed last week.
The first stage of the men’s race will then begin in the city’s Old Town on Friday July 2, with the peloton heading south through the Scottish Borders to the finish in Carlisle.
Mr Prudhomme’s honorary doctorate recognises an influential tenure as head of the most famous race in cycling – a role he has held for nearly 20 years.
The 65-year-old spent the first part of his career covering cycling as a journalist, before joining Amaury Sport Organisation, the company which organises the Tour, in 2004.
Mr Bush, meanwhile, has built a remarkable career in sports leadership, including roles with Scottish Swimming, Visit Scotland and the Commonwealth Games.
The Tour de France is the latest in a long list of major sporting spectacles he has helped bring to the country, alongside the Ryder Cup and Euro 2020.
To mark the pair’s graduation, the Tour de France Grand Depart trophy was displayed on stage and outside the Usher Hall for their fellow graduates, while Napier University’s Craiglockhart campus is being lit up in the Tour’s yellow this week.
Mr Prudhomme was presented with his honorary degree by Professor Tom Campbell, director and academic lead at Bike Innovation Scotland, who paid tribute to his tenure as director.
“For almost 20 years, Christian has been responsible for one of the world’s largest sporting events,” he said.
“He has presented the Tour as a cultural event whose significance extends far beyond the outcome of the race itself, one in which landscapes, communities and traditions are as important to its identity as the sporting contest itself.
“He has driven innovation within the race while remaining faithful to its traditions, a delicate balance that defines his tenure as director.”
Mr Bush’s honorary degree was conferred by Professor Jane Ali-Knight, professor in festival and event management at Edinburgh Napier.
“Paul is an individual who has spent over 30 years transforming the landscape of sport, coaching, and major events,” she said.
“His path to leadership was built on the front lines of performance.
“We are recognising Paul for his outstanding contribution to sports development, his mastery of global event delivery, and his enduring generosity toward the next generation of talent.”