THE world’s top cyclists will be hurtling through some of the most spectacular landscapes in the country in Britain’s newest international race.

The full route of the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire has been announced today, taking in a total of 515km – 320 miles - over three days of competition.

Day one on May 1 will see the riders, from all over the world, start in Bridlington and follow a circuit that will finish further up the coast at Scarborough.

The riders will head along the Flamborough Head Heritage Coast before turning into the North York Moors National Park, through Dalby Forest and towards Pickering.

They will then take a spectacular journey back to the coast at Whitby, turn south for a tough climb to Robin Hood’s Bay then race to the finish line along the seafront at Scarborough.

Day two will see the race start outside Selby Abbey and take a winding route before heading north to Malton, then on to Stamford Bridge.

Spectators will then see a dramatic finish in York - which witnessed incredible scenes during the 2014 Grand Depart of the Tour de France.

The final day, May 3, will start in Wakefield and head south to Barnsley before taking a winding route to the finish in Leeds.

The race will be shown live on television in the UK and across Europe and is part of the legacy of last year’s Tour de France, when the Yorkshire Grand Départ attracted millions of spectators.

Organiser Christian Prudhomme said: “After the grandest of Grand Départs of the Tour de France, we were keen to return to Yorkshire.

“With its stunning landscapes, iconic cities and tough climbs, Yorkshire offers all the ingredients needed for a great cycling race.”

The route was designed by Thierry Gouvenou, the Tour de France’s sports director, who said; “Yorkshire offers so much with its huge variety of landscapes.”

He added: “In the following years we will change the routes, taking in new places and offering something new each time.”

Welcome to Yorkshire’s chief executive Gary Verity added: “The Tour de Yorkshire will bring back many of the world’s top cycling teams.

“And this is a free event to watch so there is an opportunity for everyone in the county to be part of Tour de Yorkshire in one way or another.”

Each start will be sometime around midday but timings will not be released for another two weeks or so, however the necessary rolling road closures will last no more than an hour, apart from the start and finish areas.

“Although the event will not be on the scale of the Tour de France, there will undoubtedly be a degree of disruption associated with the race,” admitted the leader of North Yorkshire County Council, John Weighell.