ORGANISERS of the Tour de Yorkshire have announced the detailed timings of the three-stage event to enable the anticipated one million spectators plan where they will watch the race.

The men's race, which featured more than 140 riders last year, including Olympic champion and Tour de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins, will run from April 29 to May 1.

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 and Danby.

The Northern Echo:

Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Gary Verity said he believed the route plans would provide for a spectacular race which would attract hordes of cycling fans.

Race organiser Christian Prudhomme added he expected to see "a race right to the end".

The first day will include a start in Beverley, before passing through Knaresborough, at about 2.20pm, ahead of the stage's only climb, at Greenhow Hill, near Pateley Bridge 40 minutes later.

Following the second day's racing and the single-day Women’s Tour de Yorkshire starting in Otley, home of women’s road World Champion Lizzie Armitstead, the riders will reconvene in Middlesbrough a ceremonial start in Middlesbrough at 11.10am.

The Northern Echo:

The final stage will begin 25 minutes later, ahead of the riders arriving in Great Ayton about 11.40am.

The route will then head through the Hambleton district villages of Tame Bridge, Rudby, Hutton Rudby, East Rounton, East Harsley and Brompton before the cyclists reach Northallerton at about 12.30pm.

The riders will head south, passing Thornton-le-Street, to Thirsk, where there will be a sprint stage at about 12.50pm, before climbing the country's steepest A-road, Sutton Bank, the first of six mountain stages during the day.

The route will continue on the A170 through Ryedale, passing through Helmsley and Kirbymoorside, before heading into the North York Moors National Park near Hutton-le-Hole, at about 1.45pm.

The route through the park's villages of Danby, Egton and Castleton and crowds are expected to gather for climbs at Blakey Ridge and Grosmont, at about 2.45pm, before the riders head towards the coast and challenge for a sprint in Whitby shortly after 3pm.

The Northern Echo:

As the race moves south, the cyclists will face further summits at Robin Hood's Bay and Harwood Dale, before a final climb at Oliver's Mount, Scarborough, at about 4.15pm, where the stage and possibly race winner could be decided as it is about ten minutes from the finish line.

For full listings, visit letour.yorkshire.com/timings