KEIGHLEY cycling enthusiasts have welcomed news of another major international race being held in Yorkshire.

And there are hopes the event will draw crowds similar to the masses who turned out for the Tour de France Grand Depart this summer.

The provisionally-titled Tour de Yorkshire will take place from May 1-3 next year.

And although an announcement on the route details is not expected until early 2015, anticipation is already building locally.

The Tour de France attracted thousands of spectators and sparked countless community activities when it came to Silsden, Keighley and the Worth Valley in July.

"After the Grand Depart and all the build-up there was a bit of a sense of 'what happens now' and almost a feeling of anti-climax when the race had been and gone," said ex-professional cyclist Bernie Burns, owner of Aire Valley Cycles in Keighley.

"This announcement will give people something to focus on through the winter and hopefully crowds will turn out in force again, perhaps even matching the numbers we saw in the summer.

"Folk really embraced the Tour de France locally, even those who weren't especially interested in cycling, and loved the whole experience.

"Hopefully we can recreate some of that.

"Even if the route doesn't actually come through this area, it will still be fantastic for Yorkshire."

His delight is shared by four-times British cycling champion, Sid Barras, who lives at Whitley Head, Steeton.

"I would like to see some of the smaller teams also involved in this but whatever the case it is great news for the region," he said.

"We have a good standard of racing now in Great Britain."

The Tour de Yorkshire – which has been officially added to next year's world cycling calender – is being run by Welcome to Yorkshire and the Amaury Sport Organisation, which operates the Tour de France. It has the backing of British Cycling.

There will be three full stages and it is also intended to have a women’s race and a mass participation event.

Talks are underway to secure worldwide TV coverage of the race.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: "This new race heralds the start of an international-class event for Yorkshire that we want to see grow over the coming years to become known the world over.

"We already have a huge amount of interest thanks to the Yorkshire Grand Depart, which captured the imagination of millions of people globally, and this race will be a fitting legacy. "