OAKWORTH’S professional cyclist Tom Moses believes the success of the Tour de France in Yorkshire will have a ‘massive’ impact on the sport.

The 22-year-old, who is on a short break from competitive road racing as he gears up for the Commonwealth Games, watched Saturday’s action on television but went to Stanbury on Sunday to see Le Tour at first hand.

He said: “Normally TV adverts last for 30 seconds but this was basically two five-hour adverts on successive days for Yorkshire and for cycling.

“It was difficult even getting to Stanbury unless you wanted to go on a long walk but what was noticeable were the number of non-cycling people who were there, which is massive for the sport.

“About the only downside of the weekend was the injury to Mark Cavendish.”

Television viewers in Keighley were left disappointed at the lack of live coverage, due to an advert break, of the riders going through the town centre following the intermediate sprint. But thousands were out on the roadsides to witness the peloton up close in the flesh.

Crowds also packed the streets through Haworth and on Oxenhope Moor as stage two, which was won by Vincenzo Nibali, headed out towards Hebden Bridge.

Moses (pictured) was a bit worried when he went out for a spin on Monday towards Bolton Abbey.

He tweeted: “About to go training... Hope the crowd has died down from yesterday @letouryorkshire or I won’t be able to get to the cafe #unbelievable.”

Moses was pencilled in to compete at Otley last Wednesday and at the British National Circuit Racing Championships in Hull last night.

But he said: “Unfortunately I decided to pull out to give myself a short break from racing to train for the Commonwealth Games and the second half of the year.

“I wasn’t able to ride at Ilkley last Tuesday as it was for lower-category riders but I will be competing in the Stockton Velo29-Altura Grand Prix next Sunday, the cottages4you Colne Grand Prix on Wednesday, July 16 and the Ryedale Grand Prix in North Yorkshire on Sunday, July 20, which are all part of the British Cycling Elite Men’s Circuit Race Series.”

Moses has been selected for England in the Commonwealth Games men’s road race on Sunday, August 3 – the final day of the bonanza in Glasgow – and he added: “I have been kitted out but won’t have any opportunity to wear it until I get up there.”