YORK could stage another major cycling event in two years time, as it emerged the city is in the running to help host the cycling world championships.

Yorkshire won a bid to host the major sporting event late last year, and Harrogate has already been confirmed as the centre of the action and the finish line location.

Now organiser the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) has confirmed that York - along with Ripon, Leeds, Doncaster, Northallerton and Beverley - is in the running to host a race start.

If York wins, the races will see the city welcome some of the world’s top cyclists, five years after the Tour de France rolled out of the Knavesmire on Day Two of the 2014 event.

Yorkshire’s UCI 2019 world championships have been hailed as a “fantastic event” and an “unprecedented opportunity” to show off the county to the world.

Welcome to Yorkshire, which worked with the Government on the bid, and chief executive Sir Gary Verity said: “We are delighted to announce our intention to start the UCI Road World Championship races in 2019 in all four corners of Yorkshire making sure the races take in the full splendour of this beautiful and diverse county.

“This is an unprecedented opportunity to showcase Yorkshire to the world and I have no doubt that every town and village on the final routes will be ready with their famous Yorkshire welcome as seen for the Tour de France and now each year for the Tour de Yorkshire.”

Some £24 million of Government money is to be invested in the event, including £15 million to develop 27 cycle facilities across the UK in the hope of leaving a lasting sporting legacy.

City of York Council and other councils including North Yorkshire County Council, East Riding Council, Hambleton District Council and Harrogate Borough Council are all working with the organisers, but a York council spokesman said it was not yet known whether any Government money was on its way to York.

Cllr Nigel Ayre, the city council’s executive member for culture, leisure and tourism, greeted the announcement as “fantastic news”.

He added: “The race will see millions of pounds of external funding drawn into our region, from central government and from lottery funding, to support the hosting of the event and for potential improvements to cycling facilities.

“This exciting event is a major race in the international sports calendar which will help showcase our beautiful city and region, just as the Tour de France did in 2014 and the Tour de Yorkshire races have since then. I will be asking council officers to put together a proper business case for City of York Council’s involvement with this project, which will be presented in a public meeting, to ensure that York is truly benefitting from this event.”