North Yorkshire Council agree to fund Tour de Yorkshire for 2017 and 2018

Riders climb Sutton Bank during stage three of the Tour de Yorkshire in May. Credit: Richard Sellers/PA Wire

The Tour de Yorkshire cycle race is to be hosted by North Yorkshire County Council for a further two years after they agreed to fund the event.

Following the success of the first two cycle races in 2015 and this year, The Council’s Executive has agreed to allocate £180,000 a year for the race in 2017 and 2018. The money goes towards the hosting fee for the event and the associated costs linked to the council’s roles and responsibilities.

The Tour is jointly organised by Welcome to Yorkshire and the Amaury Sports Organisation, which also owns the Tour de France. It was first held in May last year as a legacy event after the Tour de France Grand Départ in 2014.

The Council have said the Tour has drawn huge roadside crowds in previous years and provides significant international exposure for the county. They say its been estimated that this year’s race generated £60 million for Yorkshire’s economy.

County Council leader Cllr Carl Les said: