TOM Moses can't wait to sample the atmosphere again at this weekend's Tour de Yorkshire after last year's "unbelievable" first event.

The Oakworth rider lines up for British-based UCI Continental team JLT Condor in the three-day race, which starts tomorrow with stage one from Beverley to Settle.

Moses had never experienced crowds like it in last year's inaugural race, in which part of the route literally went past his own front door.

The 23-year-old said: "Last year was unbelievable. Racing through the village where I grew up – the number of people cheering at the side of the street was amazing, as it was through the entire route."

This year's version – with stage two on Saturday going from Otley to Doncaster and Sunday's finale from Middlesbrough to Scarborough – might not be quite as close to home for the former Oakbank pupil.

But as one of the ten Yorkshire riders competing, he will get plenty of support from the sidelines again with big crowds expected.

"There is no other race as big as this for our team in terms of publicity and the number of people who turn out to watch.

"It's certainly one of my favourite races."

Moses is set to play a support role for his team-mates, with fellow Yorkshiremen Graham Briggs and Russell Downing targeting success on their local roads in stage two before the focus moves to climbers Steve Lampier and Stevie Williams on stage three.

Moses added: "It will be nice to be on familiar roads on stage one. Last year it was a big advantage knowing exactly what's coming up and having a home crowd.

"This year I'm hoping to get in the breaks and then look after team climbers Stevie and Steve as far as I can into the last stage for their GC (general classification) hopes."

Moses – who impressed for England in the 2014 Commonwealth Games road race in Glasgow before getting a puncture with two laps to go – is in good form.

He won stage one of Northumberland's Tour of the Reservoir earlier this month and said: "It was unexpected as I'd been out with flu for two weeks.

"It was just good to get going again and I was happy to get the win."

That was one of a number of recent JLT Condor successes, the latest coming last weekend in the Melton International CiCLE Classic, which saw Conor Dunne and Chris Lawless claim first and third respectively.

Moses said: "We've started the season well. We are a new line-up, with not many riders staying on from last year.

"We have a bigger budget and better riders, and we're all working together well."

Richard Handley finished tenth in the Tour de Yorkshire GC last year for JLT and Moses said the team had a similar aim this weekend, along with being the leading British Continental outfit.

Competition will certainly be fierce, with Team Sky – including last year's winner Lars Petter Nordhaug and national champion Peter Kennaugh – among the established world tour teams.

The main attraction is sure to be Sir Bradley Wiggins as he rides in his Team Wiggins colours, while Otley's Lizzie Armitstead is the star attraction in the ladies race on Saturday.