Yorkshire could be staging Le Grand Depart of the 2016 Tour De France, it has been revealed.
Officials from Yorkshire are reportedly 'in advanced talks" with race organisers ASO, according to the Yorkshire Post.
Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Gary Verity confirmed the bid and told the Yorkshire Post: "Those in-depth discussions are ongoing but I can reveal Yorkshire's bid has been positively received by the organisation committee at this stage," he said.
"Yorkshire is a world-class destination experienced at successfully hosting world-class events and we believe it will provide the perfect backdrop to the world's greatest cycle race, producing the best international Grand Départ the Tour de France has seen yet."
The proposed stage would start in Leeds, take in the Yorkshire Dales, York, the North York Moor, Scarborough and Hull before finishing in Sheffield.
England last staged a Grand Depart in 2007 when London put on an excellent show. Dover, Brighton, Portsmouth and Plymouth have also hosted Tour De France stages in the past.