Yorkshire has secured another hugely prestigious cycling event, it has been revealed.

The UCI Road World Championships will come to the region in 2019.

The news was announced by UCI President Brian Cookson OBE from Doha, Qatar, which is currently hosting the 2016 UCI Road World Championships.

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Although no specific locations have been announced yet, the news has been welcomed by North Yorkshire County Counci as a coup that establishes the region on the global stage.

North Yorkshire County Council Leader Cllr Carl Les said that the region’s reputation for giving international cycling a world class welcome had made it a number one destination for major competitive events.

He said that the quality of organisation and the sheer numbers of people that turned out to line the county’s routes for both the Tour de France and the Tour de Yorkshire in past years had set Yorkshire apart as a host region.

He said: “Yorkshire has embraced cycling and here in North Yorkshire our communities have turned out in their millions to watch these great races and the world’s top cyclists pitch against each other along spectacular coastal routes, over moor, through our dales and past our historic abbeys, churches and houses.”

Cllr Les said the road world championships would present yet another fantastic opportunity to showcase the county in all its beauty and variety and with all the gains for the tourism economy that this would be bound to bring.

He said: “We must congratulate all those who have worked so hard on this successful bid for such a prestigious event and also thank those who have worked so hard in the past in hosting the Tour de France and the Tour de Yorkshire. Their effort and commitment has helped to cement Yorkshire’s reputation as the go-to destination for world cycling.”

The bid was compiled between Welcome to Yorkshire, British Cycling and UK Sport and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The Government has committed to invest £24 million into the event, £15 million of that budget will be used to develop 27 cycle sport facilities across the UK which will leave a lasting legacy at grassroots level. In addition there is £3 million of National Lottery funding from UK Sport.

The decision enhances Yorkshire’s global reputation for cycling, which began in 2014 with the Tour de France Grand Départ and has continued ever since with the annual Tour de Yorkshire.

He said: “The UCI Management Committee is pleased to award the UCI Road World Championships to Yorkshire in 2019. Since hosting the Tour de France’s Grand Départ in 2014 and subsequent Tours de Yorkshire, the county has proved it is a fitting host for road cycling’s leading annual event and we are sure there will be world class crowds to match.”

Tracey Crouch, Minister for Sport said: "I am delighted that our bid to host the UCI Road World Championships in 2019 has been successful. The Government is backing the event with investment to stage the Championships and leave a legacy that will help strengthen cycling at the grassroots across the country.

Sir Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “Today marks a moment in history. Yorkshire has shown it can host world-class events with the Grand Départ and Tours de Yorkshire, and now the county has been chosen to host the nine-day UCI Road World Championships in 2019.

“We have got the scenery, the crowds, and the warm welcome, and we are sure the world’s best riders will love the challenging roads we have to offer.”

Ian Drake, Chief Executive of British Cycling said: “To get £15 million to invest in cycle sport facilities is massive and will truly leave a lasting legacy for this event.

“While we’ve been building dozens of new facilities over the last decade, this is an opportunity to ensure that every area of Britain has close access to a closed road circuit, velodrome, BMX track or mountain bike trail.

“This is transformational for the sport and will inspire thousands of people to take up cycling.”