Yorkshire set for huge cash boost from cycling

KWELA CHAMPAGNE HIGHLIFE ROMAN SPINNER ROYAL FAMILY

GREAT BEAR PERFECT REFUGE

PURGATORY (39) R Beckett 9-7 (BF) ...........................H Bentley — (19) R Charlton 9-7 ..............Adam J McNamara 75

(39) M Botti 9-5 ......... S Cherchi (7) 75 (27) R Charlton 9-2 ....................... J Watson 73 (19) C Fellowes 9-0 .............. S Donohoe 72 (20) S L Keightley 8-2 ........................... .................................................................Josephine Gordon YORKSHIRE has been given an insight into the sort of economic impact it can expect from hosting the UCI Road Cycling World Championships later this month after the sport’s world governing body released figures from last year’s event in Innsbruck.

According to a report commissioned by the UCI and conducted by EY, the 2018 World Championships were worth 40 million euros (£35.7m) to the local economy of Innsbruck and Tirol.

Visitors to the region accounted for 89 per cent of that impact, with the hotel industry primarily benefiting.

Of the average 114 euros (£102) spent by each visitor per day, 74 euros (£66) went on accommodation.

The report also found that television coverage of the event, which drew in a total global audience of 250m in 100 different countries, led to 60 per cent of viewers expressing an interest in visiting the region in the future.

UCI president David Lappartient said: “I am delighted that the study conducted by EY in collaboration with the UCI has confirmed the extremely positive direct and indirect economic impact our events generate during and after competition.

“Our World Cups and our World Championships provide athletes with a magnificent stage on which to compete and are also strong drivers of economic development, in terms of cycling and tourism, in the regions that host them.”

The push to attract visitors to the region has been central to Yorkshire’s bid to bring major cycling events - including the 2014 Tour de France - to the county, a project driven by the tourism agency Welcome To Yorkshire. This year’s World Championships take place from September 22-29. Individual races will begin in towns and cities across the county, with each event finishing on a circuit in the event’s central hub of Harrogate.