THE spotlight will once again fall on North Yorkshire’s stunning scenery when the Tour de Yorkshire returns next weekend.

North Yorkshire’s coastline, moors and communities will play a starring role on day three of the road race on Sunday, May 1, and some of the world’s best cyclists will be tested on the region’s toughest climbs at Sutton Bank, Blakey Ridge and Grosmont.

Communities along the route are preparing festivals and events to entertain the crowds, and visitors are warned there will be road closures and parking restrictions in place to keep both riders and spectators safe.

The tour will embark from Beverley on Friday, April 29, and complete the stage in Settle, then on the following day the one-day Women’s Tour de Yorkshire and stage two will pass from Otley to Doncaster.

The Northern Echo:
The Ladies Tour De Yorkshire race passes through York. Picture: Anthony Chappel-Ross

A number of events and festivals are being held by communities across the route, including Stokesley’s TourFest, which features live music, food stalls and street entertainers, Middlesbrough’s Enjoy the Ride festival, with a celebratory carnival, community stage and street theatre, and similar events at Sutton Bank, Danby, Northallerton and Thirsk.

Sir Bradley Wiggins will celebrate his birthday in Yorkshire as he prepares for the race with his Team Wiggins teammates, and last year’s winner, Team Sky’s Lars Petter Nordhaug, will be riding, as will Pete Kennaugh and Luke Rowe.

The Northern Echo:
Stage Three: Middlesbrough to Scarborough - for an interactive map, visit letour.yorkshire.com

World Champion and Otley born Lizzie Armitstead will lead the women’s peloton for the race which offers one of the biggest prize funds in the world. On Sunday, May 1 the riders will depart Middlesbrough at 11.35am, and the 198km stage will pass through Great Ayton, Stokesley, Northallerton, Thirsk, Helmsley and Kirkbymoorside.

It is expected to arrive at Glaisdale at about 2.30pm before travelling to Grosmont, Sleights and Ruswarp, passing through Whitby at about 3pm and arriving at the finish in Scarborough at about 4.25pm.

Most roads will be closed about 20 to 30 minutes before the race and will reopen as soon as the race has passed. The last race vehicle will be clearly identified.

However, some longer closures will be needed at key points. For full details and for parking arrangements visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/tour.

“This is a fantastic event which builds on last year’s Tour de Yorkshire, and once again the benefits to North Yorkshire will be enormous, both in the immediate term and the longer term,” said Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council.

The Northern Echo:
Lizzie Armitstead, who is taking part in this year's race, with Sir Gary Verity and Christian Prudhomme, at the Tour de Yorkshire launch in York. Picture: Welcome to Yorkshire

Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “North Yorkshire County Council has thoroughly embraced the opportunity of hosting a world class cycling race on its roads and will play an important part in keeping both the riders and spectators safe along the route.”

Big screens from which to watch the race will be at Sutton Bank Visitor Centre; Moors National Park Centre, Danby; Stokesley TourFest; Thirsk Market Place; Church Green, Northallerton; Dock End, Whitby; Foreshore Road, Scarborough; Sandside, Scarborough; and the finish in Scarborough.

Road closures

Cote de Grosmont - Fair Head Lane from its junctions with Front Street Grosmont and Eskdaleside to the A169 from 1pm to 4.30pm.

Whitby harbour area - New Quay Road, Bridge Street and Church Street from 2pm to 4.30pm.

Scarborough, Oliver’s Mount - Mere Lane and Oliver’s Mount from 2pm to 6pm.

Scarborough seafront - Sandside and Foreshore Road from 2pm to 6pm; Marine Drive and Royal Albert Drive from 5am to 9pm, except for the section between The Sands and Albert Road, which will be closed from 8pm on Saturday to 9pm on Sunday. Queens Parade from 2pm to 6pm.

Stokesley High Street - Open until 11.15am. Immediately following the race, High Street, West Street and West End closed between North Road and Thirsk Road until 7pm.

A19 Black Swan Junction/ Hutton Rudby - The off slip roads on both the northbound and southbound junctions from 10.45am to 1pm.

Northallerton High Street - closed from 8am to 7pm from the Quaker Lane roundabout to Zetland Street.

A170 Sutton Bank - Between the east of Sutton under Whitestonecliffe village to the Sutton Bank Visitor centre from 10am to 4pm.

A170 eastbound Thirsk to Sutton Bank – From 11.30am until 2pm eastbound access from Thirsk to Sutton under Whitestonecliffe. Local access only until 4pm.

A170 westbound Sutton Bank to Thirsk - Traffic will be able to head towards Thirsk from Sutton under Whitestonecliffe until 12.30pm to 2pm. Local access only until 4pm.

A170 Sutton Bank to Duncombe Park – Between noon and 2pm, local access only until 4pm.