NEWS that the Tour de Yorkshire is to be extended to four days has been welcomed as “a huge boost” for the region.

This year’s cycle race drew thousands of spectators when it came through South Craven, Keighley and the Worth Valley.

Many residents, groups and businesses also produced celebratory bunting and staged activities.

The race that day, April 30, was the Tour’s third and final stage.

Now jubilant organisers have learned from cycling’s world governing body, the UCI, that next year there will be a fourth day of racing.

The event will run from Thursday, May 3, to the Sunday.

And the Asda Women’s Tour de Yorkshire, previously a one-day race, will be staged over two days – May 3 and 4.

Bosses from Welcome to Yorkshire and ASO, which organise the Tour, say the move will further enhance the event’s reputation and bring far-reaching benefits.

The Tour de Yorkshire was launched in 2015, following the hugely-successful Tour de France Grand Depart the previous year, and it has grown into one of sport’s best-supported races.

April’s event was broadcast live in 180 countries and a record 2.2 million fans lined the route.

The race also generated an estimated £64 million for the Yorkshire economy and the Asda Women’s Tour de Yorkshire remains one of the most lucrative events in the sport.

Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive, Sir Gary Verity, said the expansion was “absolutely tremendous" news.

“It is something we have long been working to achieve,” he added.

“We are grateful to British Cycling for supporting our application and to the UCI for granting us this extension.

“Seeing the Tour de Yorkshire grow into what it is today is one of my team’s very proudest achievements and none of this would have been possible if the people of Yorkshire - and Great Britain - hadn’t taken the race to their hearts.

“This decision will help us attract even bigger names in the future and allow us to design a more varied and spectacular route.

“Our race is growing in stature all the time and the next two editions will hold even greater prestige given that Yorkshire is also hosting the UCI Road World Championships in 2019.

“Cycling is booming across the county and this marks an exciting new chapter for our race.”

Tour de France director, Christian Prudhomme, describes the Tour de Yorkshire as a “true success story”.

He added: “The way the race has grown over the last four years has been incredible.

“The size and passion of the crowds has not just impressed me, but the cyclists too.

“They are always blown away by the reception they receive and are already looking forward to coming back in 2018.

“Extending the race to four days will allow us to visit more parts of the county and put on an even greater show.”

The decision to extend the Tour to four days means there will be eight start and finish destinations. The locations are due to be announced on Thursday, September 28.

Details of the full route will be unveiled at a high-profile press conference on Tuesday, December 5.

British Cycling chief executive, Julie Harrington, said: “We welcome the decision by the UCI to endorse the increase in duration of both the men’s and women’s races at the Tour de Yorkshire.

“It is a sign of the fantastic work done by Welcome to Yorkshire, in collaboration with British Cycling, in building an event which inspires people across Britain to get active by getting on their bikes.”