Sir Gary Verity has expressed confidence that he will win the right to expand the Tour de Yorkshire into a four-day race from 2017 onwards.

Verity, chief executive of tourism body Welcome to Yorkshire, has been lobbying British Cycling chiefs for the green light to build on the success of the inaugural three-day event last year.

And ahead of Wednesday's announcement of the route for the 2016 event, Verity believes he is close to securing the backing required to put his plan into action.

Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome To Yorkshire, wants to extend the Tour de Yorkshire to four days

Bradley Wiggins, riding in last year's Tour de Yorkshire, has announced he will return for the 2016 race

Yorkshire hosted the opening stages of the Tour de France in 2014 inspiring the Tour de Yorkshire

Verity told Press Association Sport: 'Everybody wants it to be four days - the UCI, the riders, the broadcasters and the fans - and we just need British Cycling to agree with us.

'We have a good relationship with the governing body and we continue to make a strong case but it is up to them and whether they are ready to embrace our visions for growing cycling.

'We are putting on a lot of pressure and we are very optimistic that we will have a four-day race in place for 2017.'

The 2016 race has already received a boost with the news Sir Bradley Wiggins will return as he steps up preparations for the Rio Olympics.

Six towns - Beverley, Doncaster, Middlesbrough, Otley, Scarborough and Settle - have already been announced as start or finish hosts for next year's race.