by Our Sports Desk

Gary Verity expressed his disappointment yesterday over London’s late withdrawal from hosting the start of the 2017 Tour de France — but insists it will not affect a prospective future bid to bring the Grand Depart back to Yorkshire.

Verity — chief executive of tourism body Welcome to Yorkshire — masterminded the successful bid for the start of the 2014 event which saw almost five million people line the roadsides over two days of action in the county.

It had been feared London Mayor Boris Johnson’s surprise decision to pull the plug on London’s campaign to host the race on the eve of the official announcement last month would count against British hopes of a return.

But Verity said: “While I don’t think it is going to help future chances, we would still be very confident of bringing the race back to Yorkshire.

“We have a strong relationship with (race organisers) ASO and they know if we say we’re going to do it we will do it — we’re not going to pull out at the 11th hour.

“We are very surprised that London backtracked but that is a decision for them. I know a lot of cycling fans and fans of that kind of event were disappointed but there you go.”

Verity stressed it was “too early” for Yorkshire to make another bid for the Grand Depart but added: “We are keen to bring the Tour back here just as soon as they want to come.”

Tour de France race director Christian Prudhomme had said in the wake of Yorkshire’s success last year it was “inevitable” the Tour will come back to Britain — and governing body British Cycling share confidence in a return.

A British Cycling spokesman said: “The huge crowds which turned out to watch the Tour de France in 2007 and 2014 demonstrated the appetite there is for cycle sport in this country and also ensured British roads will continue to be a very attractive venue for international cycling.”