THE organisers of the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire have announced details of when the international cycling race will pass locations to enable spectators and businesses to plan for the three-day event.

Welcome to Yorkshire and the Amaury Sport Organisation said they expected the 174km opening stage, which starts in Bridlington on May 1, to reach a King of the Mountains climb at Dalby Forest shortly after 1pm and that fans would view a sprint at Pickering 30 minutes later.

The race - to be broadcast to 70 countries around the world - through the North York Moors National Park will include a climb up one of England's steepest roads, known to cyclists as The Chain-breaker, the 1:3 gradient Chimney Bank, outside Rosedale Abbey, shortly after 2pm.

Other highlights will include climbs at Grosmont and Briggswath, near Whitby, around 3pm, before a sprint ten minutes later in Whitby, and a climb at Robin Hood's Bay before a finish after 4pm in Scarborough, where it had initially been hoped to end the first day of the Tour de France last year.

The flatter 174km second stage will pass through Ryedale on May 2 at around 2pm and conclude in York with a sprint, ahead of two laps of the city.

The 167km final stage will see riders take on six climbs as they cross West Yorkshire, from Wakefield to Leeds.

Thierry Gouvenou, Tour de France sports director added: “With 515km in total there are some excellent opportunities throughout the three days for spectators to see riders take Sprint and King of the Mountain climb points, ahead of finish lines designed to generate the kind of welcome that Yorkshire spectators gave the peloton in the Tour de France”.

Details of the route and timings can be viewed at letouryorkshire.com/timings