Welcome to Yorkshire to bid for world cycling race

Yorkshire is making a bid to host the cycling Road World Championships in 2019.

Tourism organisation Welcome to Yorkshire said the government would underwrite the cost of the venture.

Details of the successful bid are due to be announced at the Union Cycliste International's annual congress in Qatar in October.

The Road World Championships is an event for professional cyclists, with male and female riders competing.

Riders take part for the chance to win the rainbow jersey.

The event takes place over eight days and includes individual and team time trials as well as full road races for Under 18, Under 23 and "elite" riders.

Sir Gary Verity, Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive, said: "Yorkshire has everything a bike race could wish for. We can promise a gruelling but spectacular range of routes, huge crowds and the very warmest of welcomes."

The county hosted the Tour de France Grand Départ in 2014 and an annual Tour de Yorkshire.

Welcome to Yorkshire's bid was compiled working alongside British Cycling and UK Sport, the organisation said.