Region embraces the spirit of Tour de Yorkshire as it returns this weekend

Cycling-related artwork is a key theme, with many art groups working on impressive installations for months in preparation for the world-class cycling event, running from Friday, April 29 to Sunday, May 1.

Sir Bradley Wiggins and his Team Wiggins teammates - Team Sky’s Lars Petter Nordhaug, Pete Kennaugh and Luke Rowe - will see towns and villages alive with colour along the route after people pulled together with spectacular results.

CELEBRATE: Victoria McDonald, of Whitestonecliffe Alpacas, preparing for the Tour de Yorkshire passing through the village of Sutton under Whitestonecliffe

A group of artists have worked on a huge piece of land art at Sutton Bank, close to the route, giving the famous Kilburn White Horse some animal companions.

It has been commissioned by the North York Moors National Park Authority and Hambleton District Council, and is being created on the Yorkshire Gliding Club’s airfield close to the White Horse

The 70-metre high, 40-metre wide artwork will highlight to the world the reason why author and vet James Alfred Wight, known by his pen name James Herriot, declared the view from Sutton Bank to be “the finest in England”.

The National Park is also organising a cycling festival on the Sunday at its visitor centres at Sutton Bank and Danby.

RIDERS: Tony Billett with the Sutton under Whitestonecliffe Penny Farthing

Thirsk will certainly catch the eye of riders as they steam through the Market Place as the town has been hit by local yarn bombers – covering lampposts, bollards, shops, trees and benches with woollen characters, bunting and pompoms.

Nearby Rural Arts at The Courthouse, Thirsk, is holding a family fun day on Sunday, starting at 8am.

The race will be screened live, and there will be flag making workshops for youngsters.

Richmond-based artist Lucy Pittaway is the official artist of the Tour de Yorkshire, and has painted a colourful picture, entitled Hills, Dales and Woolly Tails.

It depicts the excitement, endurance and tenacity of the race, set against the unique Yorkshire backdrop with an eager crowd of fluffy spectators.

Illustrator and glass artist and cycling enthusiast Jane O’Neill has created images of the North York Moors, Middlesbrough and Beverley, which have been used to decorate handmade glass coasters, cards and mugs.

Her work will be displayed at Sutton Bank National Park Centre and The Moors National Park Centre in Danby. Visit http://www.abundantglass.co.uk.

A free festival to celebrate the arrival of the Tour in Stokesley will take place on Sunday - and has been confirmed as one of the few places on the route that will host the publicity entourage before the cyclists arrive.

Stokesley Tourfest will feature live music, rides, street entertainers, food stalls, a mobile bar, marquees on The Green, official merchandise stalls, a children’s treasure trail and parades along the High Street, as well as a large, outdoor screen showing the Tour de Yorkshire.

When the Tour de Yorkshire passes through Sutton under Whitestonecliffe a spare bike will be on hand as the villagers have built and decorated a penny farthing in race colours.

The penny farthing, made by Tony Billett, has built the bike to support the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the official race charity.

Mr Billett has named the bike – and for £1 visitors can guess the name, with the winners receiving a share of £50 prize money.

The Whitestonecliffe Inn opens early and, in the car park will be two of local farmers Ed and Victoria McDonald’s alpacas, dyed the race colours of blue and yellow.

Mrs McDonald, of Water Hall Farm and Whitestonecliffe Alpacas said: “We have a heard of about 30 alpacas alongside our beef herd. We wanted to do something different so thought we would paint Harmony and Carol yellow and blue to celebrate the tour coming through the village.”

On Sunday 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.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

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

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

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

Scarborough seafront - Sandside and Foreshore Road will be closed from 2pm to 6pm. Marine Drive and Royal Albert Drive will be closed 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 will be closed from 2pm to 6pm.

Stokesley High Street - The high street will be open until 11.15am. Immediately following the race, High Street, West Street and West End will be 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 will be closed from 10.45am to 1pm. Diversions will be in place.

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

A170 Sutton Bank - The race route will be closed between from 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 will not be allowed. Road to be re-opened at 4pm.

A170 westbound Sutton Bank to Thirsk - Traffic will be able to head towards Thirsk from Sutton under Whitestonecliffe until 12.30pm to 2pm. By 4pm the road completely re-open.

A170 eastbound Sutton Bank to Duncombe Park – Closed between 12.30pm and 2pm, local access only until 4pm.

A170 westbound Duncombe Park to Sutton Bank – Closed from noon to 2pm. Local access only until 4pm.

A170 Sutton Bank - The race route will be closed between 10am to 4pm. For through traffic, a signed diversion will be in place via the caravan route.

Big screens from which to watch the race will be in place 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.