The government will invest £800,000 in improving cycling facilities in Yorkshire and promoting this year’s Tour de Yorkshire.

Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg said £500,000 would go to building new cycling facilities, including new circuits, designed to support 10,000 competitive and recreational cyclists wanting to take part in the sport away from traffic, with access to support facilities.

A further £300,000 will be invested on international marketing to promote the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire, taking place in May 2015.

The investment is part of the legacy strategy for last year’s Grand Depart of Tour de France, which was held in Yorkshire.

The organiser of the Tour de France, Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), was so impressed with Yorkshire’s role in staging the race last year that it agreed to stage a new international road race this year, working in partnership with local tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire.

Tour de Yorkshire will run from 1 to 3 May. Stage 1 begins in Bridlington and finishes in Scarborough, stage 2 begins in Selby and finishes in York, while stage 3 starts in Wakefield and will finish in Leeds.

Nick Clegg said: “Yorkshire wore the yellow jersey with pride last year, with an incredible staging of the Tour de France Grand Depart.

“The Tour de Yorkshire this summer is the perfect opportunity to build on this lasting legacy, attracting visitors again, which in turn will boost business in the region.

“This further funding will ensure the Tour de Yorkshire gets international attention on a grand scale, whilst investment for new facilities will help the sport grow so that everyone can enjoy cycling.”

It is estimated that Yorkshire’s local economy benefitted to the tune of over £100m when it hosted the Tour de France Grand Depart last year.