CELEBRATIONS are taking place across North Yorkshire to mark 100-days until the 2019 UCI Road World Championships visit the region.

Richmond, Northallerton, Ripon and Harrogate will be key locations for the event with time trials and races starting and finishing in the towns between September 22 and 29.

The Championships are returning to Great Britain for the first time since 1982 and millions of fans are expected to line the county’s roads for what organisers Yorkshire 2019 are aiming to be the most inclusive, innovative and inspiring Championships ever.

As part of that inclusivity drive, Yorkshire 2019 have joined forces with UK Sport and British Cycling to make the opening weekend of the Championships particularly family friendly with a number of activities targeted at younger spectators.

Yorkshire 2019 CEO Andy Hindley said: “It’s exciting to have reached this milestone and we’re on track to deliver a truly world-class event.

"Already, we’re starting to see rainbow-coloured flags and bunting lining the streets of Yorkshire and in 100 days’ time the county is going to be at the centre of the cycling world.

“Over 1,000 of the world’s best riders from around 90 countries will be here by then, and images of Yorkshire will be being beamed to a global TV audience of 250 million.

“We’re breaking the mould with what we want to achieve at these Championships and they will leave a true, lasting legacy to people of all ages.”

British Cycling chief executive Julie Harrington said: “We want to ensure that this once in a generation event provides every child with the opportunity to ride a bike."

This week Official Yorkshire 2019 flags were presented to the nine local authorities who are hosting a race start or finish, including Hambleton and Richmondshire, and these will be flown from key locations between now and the Championships.

Minister for Sport Mims Davies said: "In 100 days' time the best cyclists in the world will be in Yorkshire as the UCI Road World Championships get underway for the first time on our shores in over 35-years.

"I am certain the people of Yorkshire will give riders and fans from all over the world an incredible welcome for what promises to be a spectacular sporting event."