Yorkshire confirm interest in hosting European Road Cycling Champs; decision expected Sunday

Yorkshire will learn on Sunday (August 14) if they have beaten off competition from two rivals to host September's European Road Cycling Championships.

The French city of Nice was supposed to host the inaugural championships between September 14 and 18 but the high terror threat in the wake of the Bastille Day attacks means the event was postponed.

The Union Européenne de Cyclisme (UEC) are looking at three venues that hope to host the revised tournament on the same dates, with Yorkshire confirming to Cycling Weekly that they have put forward a bid.

"We can confirm that Yorkshire is interested in hosting the European Road Cycling Championships and would be honoured to do so," a spokesman for Welcome to Yorkshire said.

"[Welcome to Yorkshire CEO] Sir Gary Verity has had conversations with the UEC in relation to this."

However, Yorkshire believe that Brittany are in pole position to be selected as Nice's replacement, but "if the opportunity arises, we would happily step in." Two locations in the county are being explored as to where the championships would be held.

A spokesman for the UEC said: "I confirm that the UEC is currently working on three different alternatives and we hope to be able to give you the name of the new location by Sunday, 14 August, so one month before the start of the event."

If chosen, it would be the fourth major cycling event in Yorkshire in the past three years, having hosted the Tour de France Grand Départ in 2014 and two subsequent Tour de Yorkshire races.

They are hoping to host the 2019 World Road Championships, too, with CW understanding Leeds would be the host of the road races, and neighbouring Greater Manchester would be home to the time trial events.