Thousands of cycling fans will get the chance to get within touching distance of some of the sport's biggest stars when the prestigious Tour of Britain winds its way along the district's roads.

And positive exposure from the Yorkshire leg of the race could help Bradford host an Olympic training camp if the UK's 2012 bid is successful, race officials pledged today.

The second stage of the Tour of Britain 2004 will see an elite field of professional cyclists from across the globe pass through Otley, ride past the Cow and Calf Rocks in Ilkley, travel over Bingley Moor and through Oxenhope.

The Yorkshire stage of the race, on Thursday, September 2, will start at 10.45am at Millennium Square in Leeds when the riders will set out on the 110-mile course which is expected to take four-and-a-half hours to complete.

Many of the competitors taking part competed in this year's Tour de France and will have been going for gold at the Olympic Games in Athens.

Regional development agency Yorkshire Forward has secured the stage for the county by working with partners, including Yorkshire Tourist Board, Yorkshire Culture, Sport England and Bradford Council.

It is hoped the event will boost the district's economy with tourism, hotels, shops and businesses all benefiting from the thousands of spectators who are expected to descend on the route.

The stage will see competitors take part in King of the Hill climbs at the famous rocks in Ilkley and at Oxenhope and sprint sections in Otley.

The five-stage Tour of Britain is returning after an absence of five years but the format is different to previous tours.

It has been re-introduced along the same lines as the Tour de France, with regions being responsible for their own legs of the race and its character and route.

Sixteen of the world's elite teams, each consisting of six riders, will battle it out over the five gruelling days to achieve overall position on the podium in London on September 5.

The prestigious CSC team from Denmark, Credit Agricole from France and Lotto-Domo from Belgium will all compete.

And the US Postal Service-Berry Flooring team - has also signed up to take part.

Although race organisers have said it was "unlikely" the team's leader and Tour de France legend Lance Armstrong would compete, they haven't ruled out the possibility that he will wow fans.

Bradford Council leader, Councillor Margaret Eaton, said: "It is terrific that this prestigious sporting event is coming to Bradford and takes in part of the district's wonderful landscape."

Terry Hodgkinson, chairman of Yorkshire Forward, said: "This event is important for Britain and the regions.

"We feel strongly that such an event will help to showcase the rich cultural and sporting assets of Yorkshire and the Humber and that the region's economy will benefit by accommodating the event."

David Andrews, chief executive of Yorkshire Tourist Board, said: "Cycling is a hugely-popular holiday activity and with the choices of landscape Yorkshire has to offer, a lucrative growth market.

London's Olympic bid team for 2012 are hoping a successful event will show that the UK can host a huge sporting occasion.