The Tour de Yorkshire bike race ended triumphantly at the Cow and Calf rocks above Ilkley in sizzling heat during May Day bank holiday. It was a television sport spectacular, egged on by more than two million spectators at the roadside.

The region’s political cycle is lagging way behind, with no clear winner visible. Months after provincial metro-mayors took office in Greater Manchester, Tees Valley, the West Midlands, Liverpool City Region and the West of England, ministers have still not found a way to bring the 5.3 million people of Yorkshire into the devolution fold.

Not surprising, really.