This year's Tour de Yorkshire has been cancelled due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
The organisers of the iconic four-day bike race, which was watched by almost 2 million spectators in 2019, say the health and well-being of everyone across the region is "frankly more important".
It was due to take place between April 30 and May 3 and Leeds was planned to host the final stage of the race - from Halifax to Leeds city centre - for the third year in a row.
Last year's event generated around £60 million for the Yorkshire economy and was watched by 1.96 million spectators and 28 million TV viewers.
A statement read that a key factor in the decision-making process was the "consideration of the additional burden that such a large-scale event places on the emergency services and local authority partners, at a time when their priorities are rightly elsewhere".
Peter Box CBE, Chair of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “The race is a great spectacle, but we all know that the health and well-being of everyone across the region, and the country, is frankly more important than a sporting event.
"Our attention now turns to supporting those tourism businesses across the region, many still reeling from the floods, during this unprecedented crisis.”
Meanwhile, The AJ Bell World Triathlon Leeds, which was due to take place on June 6 and 7, has been postponed because of the Covid-19 outbreak.
A spokesperson said: “When hosting major events, the welfare and well-being of everyone involved in the event, including athletes, officials, spectators, volunteers and staff is the absolute priority.
“The UK Government’s current advice is to increase social distancing and has suggested that mass gatherings or events that require emergency services provision will not be able to go ahead. Therefore the local organising committee has taken the decision of postponing the event.”
The committee are in consultation with relevant authorities and partners to find a suitable date to reschedule the event with an update to be provided by April 30.
Participant entries will automatically be transferred to the rescheduled date.
Those who have grandstand tickets for the event will be contacted directly regarding their purchase.
