OLYMPIC gold medallists are heading to York to launch and take part in this Sunday’s big Sky Ride.

Joanna Rowsell Shand, Katie Archibald and Phil Hindes, who all won gold in Rio, will be starting the event and then cycling the route, alongside Team GB’s Kyle Evans, Tre Whyte, Shanaze Reade and Vicky Williamson.

They will then spend the rest of the day supporting Sky Ride, with a question and answer session at 1.30pm at Clifford’s Tower, followed by autograph signing.

Sir Chris Hoy, Sky Ride Ambassador, said that over the past eight years, tens of thousands of local cyclists had taken to the streets of York as a result of the successful partnership of British Cycling, Sky and City of York Council.

“We look forward to making 2016’s Sky Ride York the biggest and best yet,” he said.

British Cycling is looking to beat last year’s 8,000 participants in the ride, which gives cyclists a chance to travel around York on traffic-free streets on a 7km route taking in famous landmarks including Clifford’s Tower and York Minster. People can sign up to the ride by going to goskyride.com/York.

Motorists are being warned that all roads along the route will be closed from 10.30am until about 5pm.The route starts at Clifford’s Tower and runs via Castlegate, Coppergate, Colliergate, King’s Square, St Andrewgate, Aldwark, Goodramgate, Deansgate, Duncombe Place, Lendal Bridge, Leeman Road, Memorial Gardens, Wellington Row, Skeldergate, Terry Avenue, Butcher Terrace, Bishopthorpe Road and a cycle path over the Millennium Bridge and back to Clifford’s Tower.

The York Festival of Cycling will also be taking place on Sunday in Rowntree Park, alongside the Sky Ride route.

It will feature the BMX stunt team ‘Savage Skills’, free security marking of cycles by North Yorkshire Police and a ‘Doctor Bike’ service by Re-Cycle York, offering free health checks on people’s bicycles.