BRAD Morgan insists his Tour of Yorkshire ride will prove to be a valuable learning experience after labelling the inaugural race ‘tough’.

The Chorley ace, riding for Team Raleigh GAC, finished in 94th place after helping teammate Steve Lampier into 18th overall.

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And the 23-year-old, in his first year at Raleigh, believes competing against some of the World’s best riders will only aid his development.

“I knew it was going to be tough,” Morgan told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“The big teams were coming off the Classics and they are probably not going to be in any better shape than they were.

“We had just been riding in this country doing single stage races so it was a big difference.

“It was a great experience to try and live with them though.”

Morgan was joined in the Raleigh squad by Barnoldswick’s Ian Wilkinson who impressed on stage two when he crossed the line in 15th place alongside stage winner Moreno Hofland (Lotto NL-Jumbo).

And Morgan, who was 75th on stage two, also praised the British supporters, many of whom had travelled over the border from Lancashire for the race with an estimated 1.5m lining the route over the three days.

“The crowds were phenomenal,” Morgan added.

“Obviously it was the first Tour of Yorkshire and I am learning all the time. I just want to try and get better and learn from these guys and see how it unfolds.

“We had Karol Domagalski and Steve Lampier as our general classification riders so I was just trying to look after them where I could.

“After that it was just a case of trying to get round but it was tough.

“The course was brilliant and the race organisers had done a great job.

“The crowds were unbelievable and it was a great event.”

Morgan is set to be named in the Raleigh squad for this weekend’s Wilton GP in the third round of the Elite Road Series.

Wilkinson, who finished the Tour of Yorkshire 103rd, is being rested by Raleigh ahead of the Tour Series which starts next week.

In Sunday’s final stage came home 119th with Morgan 116th.

On stage one Morgan finished 81st as Wilkinson finished 120th.

Colne’s Steven Burke, riding for Team Wiggins abandoned during stage one. Wiggins himself finished the race in 59th overall.