A RECORD 40 teams, including 14 from Britain, have today been announced in Bradford for this year's Tour de Yorkshire.

The men's race will take place on May 3-6 and the women's race, backed by Asda which will also have 20 teams, will be on May 3-4.

The announcement from Tour de Yorkshire organisers Welcome to Yorkshire and Amaury Sport Organisation came at Y18 - the UK's largest tourism event.

The number of women's teams has been increased from 16.

A total of six UCI World Tour teams, seven Pro Continental outfits and six British squads will take part in the men's race, while seven of the top 12 teams have been attracted to the women's race, alongside five more European and eight British squads.

In addition, the men's race will include Yorkshire-based (although Irish registered) Holdsworth Pro Racing, while other debutants are Astana, Euskadi Basque Country-Murias, Rally Cycling and Vital Concept.

New teams in the women's race are Boompods EDCo, Experza-Footlogix, Movistar Team, Parkhotel Valkenburg and Team OnForm.

Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Sir Gary Verity said: "The demand from teams looking to compete in the Tour de Yorkshire is always high, and that reflects the esteem in which our race is regarded.

"Reducing the number of riders per team from eight to seven in the men's event meant we could invite more squads than before, and we also upped the number of women's teams from 18 to 20 to ensure parity.

"Having the best teams in the business coming to Yorkshire is a massive coup, and we're delighted to have a record number of British-based teams pitting themselves against the world's finest riders.

"Teams want to compete at the Tour de Yorkshire as they know they will be guaranteed massive crowds, exciting racing and an electric atmosphere.

"Last year 2.2 million spectators lined the route, and the fourth edition promises to be the biggest and best one yet."

The men's and women's team line-ups will be finalised in the fortnight before the race, with a number of big-name attendees set to be unveiled in the coming weeks.

Men's list – UCI World Tour teams: Astana Pro Team (KAZ), BMC Racing Team (USA), Team Dimension Data (RSA), Team Katusha Alpecin (SUI), Team Sky (GBR), Team Sunweb (GER).

Seven UCI Pro Continental teams: Aqua Blue Sport (IRE), Cofidis, Solutions Credits (FRA), Direct Energie (FRA), Euskadi Basque Country-Murias (ESP), Rally Cycling (USA), Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij (NED), Vital Concept (FRA).

Six UCI Continental teams: Canyon Eisberg (GBR), Holdsworth Pro Racing (IRE), JLT Condor (GBR), Madison Genesis (GBR), One Pro Cycling (GBR), Vitus Pro Cycling (GBR).

National team: Team GB (GBR).

Women's list: Ale Cipollini (ITA), Bepink Cogeas (ITA), Boels Dolmans Cycling Team (NED), Boompods EDCo (GBR), Canyon Sram Racing (GER), Drops Cycling Team (GBR), Experza-Footlogix (BEL), FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope (FRA), Hitec Products (NOR), Doltcini-Van Eyck Sport (BEL), Movistar Team (ESP), NCC Group-Kuota-Torelli (GBR), Parkhotel Valkenburg (NED), Storey Racing (GBR), Team GB (GBR), Team OnForm (GBR), Team Jadan Weldtite (GBR), Team Sunweb (NED), Team WNT (GBR), Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling (GBR).