BRITAIN'S biggest cycling extravaganza is heading back to the county - with Worcester looking to host part of the Men’s Tour of Britain 2017.

After the huge success of the 2014 event, city leaders want Worcester to be a launchpad for the stage start of the final day, before the participants weave their way through Worcestershire.

The move has been revealed by Worcester City Council, which has agreed to draw up the funding needed to make it reality.

Three years ago the start of the Men's Tour of Britain 2014 took place in Worcester, putting the city on a national pedestal.

An economic appraisal of that bash now been published revealing how it boosted the city's economy by £995,000, not including repeat tourism.

The city's Labour leadership has now agreed to earmark £15,000 towards having a slice of the 2017 event, with funds from councils in Malvern and Wychavon taking the pot to £35,000 so far.

Some £80,000 is needed to sponsor it, with the city council taking on the responsibility for raising funds to reach that tally.

But the Labour cabinet has agreed to underwrite the amount, effectively guaranteeing that Worcester will secure the stage start of the last day in September 2017.

The Men's Tour of Britain were so impressed by Worcestershire in 2014 that they vowed to return to the county if a deal could be struck.

The organisers of the event, called Sweetspot, has now approached the city council to ask it to sponsor the final day for 2017.

A new report on it says "to do nothing would risk the opportunity of losing a major international sporting event", insisting there are "few, if any" opportunities to give the city such an economic boost if this was not taken.

The plan was voted through during a cabinet meeting, with city leaders calling it "brilliant".

It is a major coup for the city, with last year's event watched by 1.2 million people on Eurosport and ITV4.

Cllr Geoff Williams, cabinet member for economy prosperity and growth, speaking during the cabinet meeting, said: "This is very significant - holding the last stage here is a big coup for the city."

Cllr Adrian Gregson, the leader, added: "Bringing the tour here again is going to be very exciting, it's already been demonstrated the benefits it brings."

Decision-makers in Worcestershire will get the chance to influence the exact route, with the city council saying the aim is to get it passing through "key market towns" after leaving Worcester.

It could also pass particular tourist attractions, depending on the cash sums offered up by third parties prepared to help out.

In 2014 Worcester hosted stage four between the city and Bristol, with 160,000 people taking part.

Some 64 per cent came from outside Worcestershire, with gross expenditure topping £1.6 million and the net spend at £995,849.

A staggering 75,000 people attended the event in Worcester three years ago as spectators.