County council asked to back Tour de Yorkshire

North Yorkshire County Council is being asked to commit to the Tour de Yorkshire cycle race until 2020, after an independent study claimed it boosts the local economy by £98m.

The county council’s executive is set to decide on future funding arrangements for the sporting event at a meeting next week (4 December).

Councillors will be recommended to authorise funding of £190,000 to support next year’s event and a further £190,000 for 2020’s event to cover the hosting fee and event costs.

An independent study estimated that this year’s race boosted the Yorkshire economy by £98m.

A record 2.6 million spectators lined the route over the four days of racing and overall spending was up 54%.

The county council, with its partners, plays an important role in funding, planning and delivering the event, working with organisers Welcome to Yorkshire and Amaury Sports Organisation.

The local authority’s role includes managing the roads, including rolling closures, emergency planning and liaising with the community and businesses.

‘We know that bringing international cycling events to North Yorkshire boosts our visitor economy and our businesses, bringing benefits that last long beyond the four days of racing,’ said council leader, Cllr Carl Les.

‘Our support for such events since the Tour de France Grand Départ in 2014 has been instrumental in bringing the UCI World Cycling Championships – the World Cup of cycle racing – to the county next September,’ added Cllr Les.

‘The Tour de Yorkshire also generates a great sense of pride. People across the county decorate their towns and villages with painted bikes, flags, bunting and amazing land art. They hold celebrations and line the streets in their thousands to support the race. Many communities love to make an event of the event.

‘We recognise that there is a degree of congestion and delay on the route and some disruption to services, but we and our partners strive to keep this to a minimum so that there is as little inconvenience as possible to people who need or want to carry on with their normal routine.’

Next year’s Tour de Yorkshire is scheduled to take place from Thursday, 2 May, to Sunday, 5 May. Bedale, Selby and Scarborough have been announced as either a start or finish location.

Full details of the route will be announced on 7 December.