"IT is absolutely top whack" was the comment. What could possibly be the subject of the discussion? the Tour de Yorkshire of course. Yes we know the huge fanfare and promotion of it all is over the top, but at the end of the day it's such a feather in the cap for the region you can see people visibly preening.

And for Bedale there's a real bees knees aura because this year they've got the double whammy, today's finish of the World Stage races for the men and women .

The town has bent over backwards to put on a show with decorations and bunting flapping wherever you turn, even Bedale's public art work family of steel deer have been decked out in bizarre TdeY pompoms.

The real winner is the town gets to do its own thing in the five hours between the women's race and the blokes so community races, a Makaton flash Mob and partying in Bedale Hall Park is on offer along with much else which will give the international event a really local feel.

The town only recently became the second in Britain declared Makaton Friendly with the community backing the sign language system which supports people with learning difficulties, so to demonstrate it on this world stage is incredible. The beauty of having the finish is the world's media is watching, there's no time for adverts. Drawing the event to town was a cracking achievement and largely won because of the enthusiasm of last year's support. As local councillor John Noone commented while awaiting the outcome of the District Council elections, "There's a lot more enthusiasm for the TdeY than there was for the elections. I think people are really excited because to get one finish is a chance in a lifetime, to get two is superb for the town, it's going to be amazing."