The Int'l Cycling Union (UCI) confirmed the men's Tour de Yorkshire race will "grow from three to four days next year, with the women’s race increasing from one to two days," according to the PA. The '18 men's race will take place from May 3-6, with the women’s race scheduled for May 3-4. The extra days are a "major boost" for the organizers, Welcome to Yorkshire and the Amaury Sport Organisation, which have been "lobbying for more time in the race calendar" since the men's event started in '15. Since that first edition -- which "built on Yorkshire's successful hosting of the start of the 2014 Tour de France" -- the races have "grown in popularity," with the first women's event taking place last year. An announcement on the venues for next year's starts and finishes is "expected in the coming weeks" (PA, 9/21). The BBC reported last year's event was watched by an estimated 2.2 million people and took place over three days, generating £64M for the local economy. The decision "means there will be eight start and finish destinations at next year's race" (BBC, 9/21).
