THE Tour de France's visit to the UK this summer was watched by crowds totalling 4.8 million people and generated around £128m, according to a report published today.
The Three Inspirational Days report examines the economic and social impact of the hosting of the opening two stages of the Tour in Yorkshire and stage three between Cambridge and London.
The Grand Depart of the 2014 Tour attracted massive crowds on the weekend of July 5 and 6 in Yorkshire as the riders went first from Leeds to Harrogate, through the Yorkshire Dales, and then from York to Sheffield.
Highlights included Mark Cavendish's crash within sight of the finish line in Harrogate, where his mother was willing him on to win stage one in her home town, and the tens of thousands of cycling fans who swamped the teams as they tackled the moorland climbs.
The Three Inspirational Days report said survey information showed that a total crowd of 4.8 million people watched the race at the roadside - 3.3 million in Yorkshire and 1.5 million in Cambridgeshire, Essex and London.
Taking into account people who watched more than one stage, the report said 3.5m individual or "unique" spectators turned out to watch.
Of these, 2.3m were in Yorkshire and 1.3m on stage three, with about 600,000 of these in London.
For the Yorkshire stages, 57 per cent of those who watched were from the county, with 40 per cent from the rest of the UK and three per cent from abroad.
It said a quarter of everyone living in the Yorkshire and the Humber region came out to watch and the Tour attracted 113,000 visitors from outside the UK, generating £33m into the UK economy.
The report said the Grand Depart generated more than £128m of economic benefit for the host areas overall, with £102m for Yorkshire and £30 million for Cambridgeshire, Essex and London.
Of this, £19.5m was generated for London.
It said the overall economic benefit figure is expected to top £150m due to the effect of increased tourism and long term trade deals.
Minister for Sport and Tourism Helen Grant said: "The Tour de France in the UK was an incredible success and once again showcased how well we put on major sporting events in this country.
"It was fantastic to see such huge crowds supporting the race in Yorkshire, Cambridge, Essex and London.
"It showed the passion Britain has for cycling and will have inspired many to take up the sport as well as giving a significant economic boost to the host regions."
Chief executive of Welcome To Yorkshire, Gary Verity, who led the county's bid to secure the event, said: "We're absolutely delighted the event brought so much money to the county to help businesses big and small, and there are benefits for the county which are impossible to measure - the profile of Yorkshire around the world has never been higher and this will have a lasting impact on visitor numbers and businesses for years and years to come."
The report was commissioned by Leeds City Council, supported by UK Sport, Welcome To Yorkshire, Transport for London and TdFHUB2014 Ltd - the company set up to run the event.
Leader of Leeds City Council Councillor Keith Wakefield said: "Hosting the start of the Tour de France elevated Leeds and Yorkshire to a platform it has never been on before.
"The key to its success was the way the public supported the event in such numbers and with such passion they made it a truly remarkable weekend no-one who saw it will ever forget."
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "The Tour in London was the most fantastic spectacle of sport, which delighted and entertained crowds across the capital.
"People packed the streets for a glimpse of the yellow jersey, as the peloton zoomed past at astonishing speed. The economic benefit of hosting such prestigious sporting events is clear, with images of our brilliant city beamed around the world - encouraging wider tourism and investment."
The report said the legacy of the event included an estimated 30 per cent of spectators who said they have increased their own levels of cycling following the Tour visit.
It said 72 per cent of spectators aged 16-24 said they felt inspired to get more active by watching the race.
President of British Cycling Bob Howden said: "The three UK stages set a new standard not just in terms of the amazing support but also because it inspired so many people, young and old, to get on their bikes."
The three days of the Tour in the UK cost £27m to put on. This was funded with £11m from the local authorities involved, £10m from the Government through UK Sport and £6m from Transport for London.
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