WORLD-CLASS cycling is returning to York, after the city was officially named as a host for the new Tour de Yorkshire.

York joins Selby, Scarborough, Bridlington, Leeds and Wakefield in a list of locations revealed yesterday to host a start or finish for the race, due to be held from May 1 to May 3 next year.

The full route will be revealed on January 21, which marks 100 days to go to the race. Yesterday’s announcement follows emails leaked to The Press in November, when we revealed the city had been pencilled in to host a stage finish.

The new UCI-approved Tour de Yorkshire marks a return of cycling • Turn to Page 3 to the county after it’s success hosting the Tour de France’s Grand Depart, which saw the second stage set off from York.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “This is another huge milestone for Yorkshire as we position the county as the cycling heartland of Europe.

“This is the first ever Tour de Yorkshire, I am confident it will become a huge annual event and something that will raise Yorkshire’s profile year on year.”

Cllr Tracey Simpson-Laing, deputy City of York Council leader, said: “After the breathtaking 2014 Tour de France Grand Depart in York and Yorkshire, the City of York Council is proud to be supporting the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire.

“We look forward to showing the best of York to the world once again and we hope residents and visitors will show their support to some of the world’s best racing cyclists.”

The race, which is being sold as a “UK flagship cycling event in 2015” with international teams and cycling stars set to participate, will cover areas of North Yorkshire which missed out on hosting the Tour de France this summer.

Leader of Selby District Council, Cllr Mark Crane, said: “This is a massive coup for Selby. We expect that being part of this race will bring in many hundreds of visitors and is a great opportunity for us to showcase this area to the rest of the region, nationally and even internationally.

“We know from the experience of the Tour de France the tremendous economic value of events such as this – although the Tour de Yorkshire will be a smaller race we still expect to see significant interest because of the calibre of riders and teams expected.

“What a great opportunity for our district and, importantly, our businesses: that’s why we threw our weight behind trying to get the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire into the district.”

Last month Cllr Crane and Selby MP Nigel Adams spoke with race organisers to put forward the case for Selby District to play a part in the race.

He said: “This new race will put Selby District on the world map. I have spoken with so many residents who hoped that this would come off.”

The Tour de Yorkshire is being organised by Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) and Welcome to Yorkshire (WTY), supported by British Cycling.

More than 3 million people turned out to see the Tour de France in Yorkshire, with the subsequent economic impact valued at more than £100 million.

Organisers say the new race will build on the Grand Départ and is at the heart of Cycle Yorkshire, the legacy of the Tour de France.