AN Embsay man has launched a book spotlighting bike rides off the Tour de France route.

De Tour de Yorkshire features the favourite training roads of top former and current professional cyclists, including Sid Barras and Tom Moses.

Behind the book is cycling writer and photographer Rick Robson, who says the publication highlights the county's "stunning" scenery seen by a worldwide TV audience when the Grand Depart arrived in Yorkshire in July.

The race passed through Silsden and Addingham, as well as Craven and the Yorkshire Dales.

"The roads covered regularly by local riders are often far more scenic, quieter and harder than those included on the Tour de France stage routes which had to fit the 200-rider peleton and publicity caravan," said Mr Robson, 41, a former national schoolboy cycling champion and ex-member of the Bronte Wheelers club.

"I have been supplying UK cycling magazines for the last five years with content singing the praises of Yorkshire and the Dales in particular, and I think since the Tour came through, the southern-based magazine editors now fully appreciate why I keep harping on about how great cycling is up here!"

The 154-page book is packed with photos and includes route maps.

It retails at £25 with 10 per cent of the proceeds going to the Dave Rayner Fund, which gives talented young cyclists the chance to race and live abroad.

The book is available online at 53x12.uk and Amazon, and from Fit for Purpose, 15 Otley Street, Skipton .