YORKSHIRE has celebrated another cycling success as three days of elite racing finished in style.

The Tour de Yorkshire saw some of the world’s best riders conquer the roads and hills of the county as some 2.2 million people turned out to watch cyclists tackle Ryedale, Tadcaster, Harrogate, Bradford and Sheffield.

Not since the 2014 Tour de France Grand Départ has Yorkshire experienced such a huge number on a single day of racing, and a bumper crowd on Sunday helped ensure the third edition of the race was officially the biggest one yet with overall attendances rising from two million to 2.2 million year on year.

The third and final day saw the peloton pass from Bradford to Fox Valley, in Sheffield, a day after scores of people in Tadcaster watched the second stage set off from their repaired bridge.

Each of the third day’s eight categorised climbs were also packed with masses of cheering, colourful and enthusiastic fans.

Serge Pauwels, of the Dimension Data team, won the third stage and the race overall. 

Australian Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott) won the Yorkshire Bank Points Classification and Dutchman Pieter Weening (Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij) sealed the Virgin Trains King of the Mountain prize.

Welcome to Yorkshire’s chief executive Sir Gary Verity said: “The last three days have been utterly unforgettable. I realise I keep saying it, but I could not be prouder of this great county we call home. 

“One million roadside fans on a single day is a truly phenomenal figure and there are barely any week-long races in the sport that can command 2.2 million spectators, let alone a three-day event like ours.”