THE sun shone on Yorkshire in more ways than one at the weekend. The now annual Tour de Yorkshire cycle race, staged for the fourth time in 2018, has taken place in all manner of weather conditions since its launch.

This year had already been dubbed the biggest and best yet, but the welcome addition of warm, sunny weather for stages three and four meant spectators came in force to enjoy the race and celebrate along with friends, neighbours and visitors.

The combination of increasing the men’s race to four days, and the women’s race to two, plus the favourable weather, will no doubt see an even bigger boost to the county’s economy – last year the race’s contribution was £64m.

Some may scoff – how can the visit of a cycle race which passes in the blink of an eye make so much money? Well anyone who was out and about on the streets of North Yorkshire on Saturday and Sunday would be in no doubt, from increased takings at pubs, cafes and ice cream shops, to bunting manufacturers, to wool shops for the now-traditional knitted decorations, the Tour has a bustling little industry of its own.

And that’s not to mention the feelgood factor it creates in both urban and rural communities, and the hard-to-quantify potential for extra tourism brought in by live TV coverage.

The Tour has been a great innovation and shows what can be achieved when the people take an event to their hearts. Other regions in need of an economic or moral boost should follow Yorkshire’s example, think big, and get their own parties started.