THE Tour de Yorkshire boosted the economy by nearly £60m, despite appalling weather, according to independent researchers.

The cycle race saw more than two million spectators line the routes which on the final day on June1, brought Europe's elite riders from Middlesbrough, through Stokesley, Northallerton and Thirsk and across the North York Moors to Scarborough.

Spending was 20 per cent up on last year across the board, with accommodation up nearly 28 per cent alongside food, drink, souvenirs and transport increasing by 12 per cent.

The race was televised in 178 countries across the globe, with 130 hours of coverage, and was watched by 11.4 million viewers.

Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, and the inspiration behind the race said: “This is tremendous news for Yorkshire and the statistics speak for themselves. The public support for the Tour de Yorkshire is overwhelming.

“Even in the face of some not so welcoming weather, these statistics show that the Tour de Yorkshire is rapidly going from strength to strength.

“This confirms that the people of Yorkshire have really taken the Tour to their hearts and already we can’t wait for next year.”

Andy Cussons, of Yorks of Thirsk tea room and shop, said the Tour de Yorkshire effect had definitely had an impact on business.

“£60m is such a huge amount of money you can’t take that in," he said. "If you average it out across every hotel, bed and breakfast, shop and restaurant it evens out, but our takings certainly increased over the weekend and since then it’s been 50 per cent up.

“It is not just this year’s race, it’s the impact it has across the world, and across Britain. It puts Yorkshire in the public eye and raises the profile - people can see how fantastic it is here.

“And the weather was horrible. Think what it could have been like in glorious sunshine?”

The economic impact study was carried out by Leeds Beckett University. Researchers found 79 per cent of spectators were from Yorkshire, with the rest from elsewhere in the UK and abroad.

The massive public support for the race was the key to it’s success bringing critical acclaim from organisers and cyclists who rate it alongside a stage of the Tour de France.

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme said this year Yorkshire was "fast becoming the heartland of cycling” while Tour de Yorkshire winner, Thomas Voeckler, said the race had a firm place in the future of cycling.

“When you see all the crowds on the road I am sure that in 20 to 30 years there will still be a Tour de Yorkshire,” he added.

The routes for next years event, the third, will include Harrogate, Halifax, and Selby.