THE start of this year’s Tour de France in North Yorkshire generated about £130million and was watched at the roadside by crowds of 4.8m.

The official event impact review examines the economic and social impact of hosting the world’s largest annual sporting event, which began on July 5 in Leeds and moved on to York followed by a third stage in Cambridgeshire, Essex and London.

Tour director Christian Prudhomme described it as “the grandest Grand Départ” in the 111-year history of the race.

The report, led by Leeds City Council, states the Tour generated more than £128m of economic benefit for the host areas overall, with £102m for Yorkshire and £30m for Cambridgeshire, Essex and London with £19.5m for London.

The overall economic benefit figure is expected to rise in the years to come to over £150m as a result of increased tourism and profile and as long-term trade deals secured at the Yorkshire Grand Départ International Business Festival held around the event are realised.

Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “We’re absolutely delighted the event brought so much money to the county to help businesses big and small, and there are benefits for the county which are impossible to measure - the profile of Yorkshire around the world has never been higher and this will have a lasting impact on visitor numbers and businesses for years and years to come."