Scarborough has key role to play as Tour de Yorkshire host towns are named

The north Yorkshire resort hosted stage finishes in each of the first two editions of the Tour and will feature again in 2017 along with Bradford, Bridlington, Fox Valley (Sheffield), Harrogate and Tadcaster.

But there are only six towns on the list for the April race after the organisers' bid to add a fourth day fell short.

Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Sir Gary Verity has been lobbying British Cycling for an extra day's racing since 2015 - the year of the inaugural Tour - and earlier this month reiterated his desire to extend the 2017 edition in the wake of Yorkshire being awarded the 2019 road world championships by the UCI.

Instead, the event will remain at three days - with the men's race taking place from Friday April 28 to Sunday April 30 and the women's race taking place on Saturday April 29.

Despite that disappointment, organisers will hope to attract huge crowds once again, particularly in the wake of the 2019 announcement.

"The world's best cyclists will be using the 2017 Tour de Yorkshire as a first dress rehearsal for that and we're planning a course that will challenge and impress them in equal measure," Verity said.

"I'm delighted the race will visit all four corners of the county and all six host towns will put on a brilliant show."

The full route is due to be announced in early December but fans can start trying to join the dots after Tuesday's announcement.

It was in Scarborough that French rider Thomas Voeckler pipped Team Sky's Nicolas Roche to overall victory earlier this year.

While Scarborough will make its third appearance, Bridlington has also hosted the race before - the first stage of the inaugural Tour in 2015 went between the two seaside towns via the North Yorkshire Moors.

Harrogate's inclusion hints at a dress rehearsal for 2019, as Press Association Sport understands all of the races in the world championships will finish in the town - which hosted the finish of the opening stage of the 2014 Tour de France.

Fox Valley - in Stocksbridge on the outskirts of Sheffield - could also herald a return to roads used in 2014 as the Tour de France passed close by on stage two between York and Sheffield.

Bradford will make its debut as a host venue, as will Tadcaster, which the 2016 edition passed through on the opening stage from Beverley to Settle.