Edinburgh bids to attract cycling events

Edinburgh hopes to be take a step closer to hosting a stage of the Tour de France, after funding for other cycling events is approved.

Councillors have backed spending £225,000 to bring the Tour of Britain and the Pearl Izumi Tour Series to the city.

They hope it could lead to a new bid for the world's most famous bike race.

Edinburgh narrowly lost to Yorkshire this year to host the Grand Depart - the start of the Tour de France.

The council will work with Tour of Britain organisers to identify a cycling route through the city.

Councillor Steve Cardownie said if the events were a success the council would be well equipped to think about bidding with partners for part of the Tour de France in 2018 or 2019.