WORLD cycling's governing body have confirmed the Tour de Yorkshire will grow from three to four days next year – with the women's race increasing from one to two days.

The 2018 men's race will take place between Thursday and Sunday, May 3-6, while the women's race is scheduled for the Thursday and Friday.

The extra days are a major boost for organisers Welcome to Yorkshire and French company ASO, who have been lobbying for more time in the race calendar since the men's event started in 2015.

Since that first edition, which built on the success of Yorkshire's hosting of the start of the 2014 Tour de France, the races have grown in popularity, with the first women's race taking place last year.

Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Sir Gary Verity thanked British Cycling for backing the application for more time and the UCI for granting it.

"This decision will help us attract even bigger names in the future and allow us to design a more varied and spectacular route," said Verity.

"Our race is growing in stature all the time and the next two editions will hold even greater prestige, given that Yorkshire is also hosting the UCI Road World Championships in 2019."

Verity added that "cycling is booming across the county", which the UCI have further recognised by naming it as one of its first five global 'bike regions'.

With a claimed roadside crowd of more than two million fans, this year's event was broadcast live in 180 countries and generated more than £60million for the local economy.

ASO's Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France, said: "The size and passion of the crowds has not just impressed me but the cyclists too.

"They are always blown away by the reception they receive and are already looking forward to coming back in 2018.

"Extending the race to four days will allow us to visit more parts of the county and put on an even greater show."

An announcement on the venues for next year's starts and finishes is expected in the coming weeks.

Belgian rider Serge Pauwels won this year's men's race, with Otley rider Lizzie Deignan taking the women's prize in her home county.