More than two million spectators watched the three-day Tour de Yorkshire, won by Thomas Voeckler.
Christian Prudhomme said: "The Tour de Yorkshire is on the podium for being one of the best bike races in the world and for me the best public for cycling in the world."
Frenchman Voeckler said the crowd "makes me want to come back next year".
The Direct Energie rider added: "When you see all the crowds on the road, I am sure that in 20 to 30 years there will still be a Tour de Yorkshire so I am really happy that my name is on the winner's list."
An estimated 2.5m people watched the opening two stages of the Tour de France when they were held in Yorkshire in 2014.
Voeckler clinched overall victory in the Tour de Yorkshire on Sunday by beating Team Sky's Nicolas Roche in a sprint finish to win the third and final stage over 123 miles from Middlesbrough to Scarborough.
The race is in its second year and Prudhomme said: "There have been huge crowds, huge enthusiastic crowds who respect the riders.
"The people of Yorkshire have passion and pride. I love what the Tour de Yorkshire has done for children who are watching this on the route and at the start and finish lines.
"These are memories that those children will never forget. The passion is growing and growing."

Consumer group Which? said nearly half of its members surveyed said such reassurance was most likely to make them see red while hanging on the line.
Next on the frustration list was being directed to the company's website, and apologies for all operators being busy.
Callers would rather be told how long they would have to wait, Which? found.
Many also wanted to know where they were in the queue, and to be given the choice of being called back. Nearly half of those asked said that classical music was the most soothing while waiting.
Nine in ten of those asked felt that they were prepared to wait on the line for no longer than five minutes.
Richard Headland, editor of Which? magazine, said: "Waiting on hold is a waste of time, but some organisations make the experience needlessly annoying through objectionable messages and music.
"If these drive you round the bend, vote with your feet and take your custom elsewhere. The best companies know the value of answering your call quickly."
Businesses lining up a queuing strategy
Jo Causon, chief executive of the Institute of Customer Service, a trade body, said: "People are time-poor and less likely to be happy waiting for service as a result. It means consumers are less understanding of organisations that do not make it easy to get in touch.
"If businesses want to enjoy ongoing customer loyalty - and attract new business - their focus should be on convenience and efficiency. In short, this means getting it right quickly, and getting it right first time. Anything less, and customers will think twice about spending money or recommending them to others."
She pointed out that the phone is now consumers' third most popular method for getting in touch with an organisation, behind face-to-face contact and online.
Yorkshire is "fast becoming the heartland of cycling", according to the director of the Tour de France.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
Being told that your call is valued is the most annoying feature for those waiting on the phone to a company, a new survey suggests.