WHEN you have a support role, your finishing position in the general classification obviously doesn't matter a great deal.

Keighley's Tom Moses didn't even know where he was placed after last weekend's Le Tour de Yorkshire.

The JLT Condor rider came 73rd but what he did know was that he had helped team-mate Rich Handley to finish the top Briton in ninth position in another race that cemented the county's reputation as a cycling hub.

The Oakworth man, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Sunday when the race came past his house, explained: "Mine was very much a support role, especially as I had the flu for two weeks beforehand and wasn't able to ride my bike at all.

"Stage one (Bridlington to Scarborough) last Friday was really tough, with a crosswind at Rosedale Abbey that split the field, and then stage two (Selby to York) was equally tough.

"On stage three (Wakefield to Leeds), I knew where it got tough and was feeling a lot stronger so I was able to help Rich out, such as getting him water bottles before the Cow and Calf at Ilkley.

"It was more important to get him into the top ten than it was to get myself into the top 50."

Following on from the success of the two stages of the Tour de France last year, the crowds again turned out in force for the three stages of Le Tour de Yorkshire, which was won by Team Sky's Lars Petter Nordhaug.

Around 1.2 million people are estimated to have turned out to watch the event, with up to 700,000 present for stage three.

Moses said: "The weather was showery as expected but a similar standard race anywhere else in the world would only get about half of the crowd.

"People were watching who don't normally watch cycling, and it was great to have my birthday wishes on the road in yellow paint. Hopefully it will be there until next year!"

Moses added on Twitter: "Hell of a day out at @letourdeyorkshire great turn out an plenty of shouts on route especially past my house! Not a bad birthday."

Also playing a support role in the Tour was Keighley's Tom Barras, who finished 119th riding for NFTO.

He tweeted: "Great effort from the team. Riders. Staff. Had to use up a few lives to hang in but this ain't a sport for softies."

Next up for Moses is the Cycle Wiltshire Grand Prix – part of the British Cycling Elite Road Series – on Sunday, followed by similar events in Redditch and Durham.

Moses also confirmed that he will be taking part in the British Cycling Elite Circuit Series at Otley on Wednesday, July 1.