NEXT year's Tour de Yorkshire could follow a route through the Dales and Three Peaks, showcasing the iconic landscape to the world.

It follows a decision by Craven district councillors to put Skipton forward as a potential host location for the 2020 Tour de Yorkshire.

The proposal was agreed at a full meeting of the council and will now go forward to Welcome to Yorkshire, which will decide on the host locations and routes.

Cllr Richard Foster, leader of Craven District Council, said: “The Tour de Yorkshire has become a global event and the opportunity for Skipton and Craven to capitalise on its success is too good to pass up.

“We want to use this to promote the area not just as a great place to visit and cycle through, but also as a place to set up a business and bring your family to live.”

The Yorkshire Dales National Park has already committed an allocation of up to £50,000 from its Opportunities Fund, as a potential contribution towards the start of the 2020 Tour de Yorkshire in Skipton, with the proviso that the route would take in a large part of the National Park.

Other potential sponsors and partners are being sought to minimise the direct cost to the council.

Councillors agreed to set aside £180,000 from the New Homes Bonus localism reserve, in order to underwrite the total costs associated with the event.

Should the council’s application for Skipton to be a host location be successful, a further report will be put before the Policy Committee setting out in more detail the anticipated costs and likely Council contribution.

The 2020 Tour de Yorkshire will be held over four days, from April 30 to May 3.