Verity: First Tour de Yorkshire could net £40m for economy

Welcome to Yorkshire boss Gary Verity believes the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire could brink £30-40m to the local economy

Yorkshire caravan, Tour de France 2013, stage five

Organisers of the Tour de Yorkshire believe the three-day race this May could bring up to £40m to the local economy.

Gary Verity, of Welcome to Yorkshire, believes the number could be proportionally as significant as that experienced by the Tour de France’s Grand Départ in the county last July.

While the Grand Départ cost around £27m to host, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post, the mainly sponsor-backed Tour de Yorkshire could bring similar benefits to the local area.

Verity told the YEP: “Proportionally you could say it has the potential to be as significant as the Tour de France.

“It wont be as big as the Tour but it could be £30m or £40m given the right weather and conditions.”

>>> Arts festival to celebrate Tour de France nets £10m for Yorkshire’s economy

Sir Bradley Wiggins and Marcel Kittel are the big-name stars to be confirmed for the Tour de Yorkshire so far, with the race taking place between May 1-3.

Welcome to Yorkshire released a fly-through video of the key parts of the route, which takes in some of the area’s most testing climbs.

Verity added: “I’m thrilled for Yorkshire for every business and local authority and everybody who’s chosen to get involved with this event that will potentially go on for decades and will be there for our children and grandchildren. It will benefit the economy going forward.”

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.