KEY details of this year's Tour de Yorkshire - the follow-up to the successful Tour De France Grand Depart of 2014 - have been revealed.

Timings and details of the location of starts and finishes for the international cycling race were published yesterday by race organisers, Welcome to Yorkshire and the France-based Amaury Sport Organisation.

The race will be held from May 1 to May 3, with stage one from Bridlington to Scarborough having a ceremonial start at 11.45am on South Marine Drive outside the Bridlington Spa.

"Riders will have a 5km neutralised section before the official race start at Sewerby at 12 noon," said a spokeswoman.

"Depending on riders' speed, the race will finish between 4pm and 4.30pm on Royal Albert Drive in Scarborough."

She said key timings for stage one included the Dalby Forest King of the Mountain climb at approximately 1.15pm, a sprint through Pickering at about 1.40pm, Rosedale Abbey King of the Mountain climb at 2.08pm, the Grosmont King of the Mountain climb at 2.52pm and the Whitby Sprint at around 3.09pm.

Stage two, from Selby to York, will have a ceremonial start at 11.20am outside Selby Abbey, with riders given an 8km neutralised section before the official race start just outside Selby on the A163 at 11.45am.

Depending on riders’ speed, the race will finish between 3.30pm and 4pm on Knavesmire Road in York.

Key points in stage two include the Wetwang Sprint at approximately 1.23pm, Fimber King of the Mountain climb at approximately 1.29pm with the York Sprint and first crossing of the finish line, ahead of two laps of the city at approximately 2.40pm.

Stage three, from Wakefield to Leeds, will start at 12.15pm outside Wakefield Cathedral and finish between 4.30pm and 5pm at Roundhay Park in Leeds.

More details of the Tour de Yorkshire route and timings can be seen at letouryorkshire.com/timings

Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said the confirmation of the timings and precise routes would help fans, spectators and businesses, who could now begin to plan their weekend, where to watch and how to get the best out of the event.

"This is going to be an extremely exciting three days for Yorkshire, he added.

York Press: Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire
Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire

Thierry Gouvenou, Tour de France Sports Director said: "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."

Meanwhile, City of York Council is encouraging residents and visitors to plan ahead for stage two of the race on Saturday May 2, when cyclists will negotiate streets including Micklegate, Paragon Street and Bishopthorpe Road.

The route will be closed from 8am until approximately 5pm, or as soon as possible after the race has finished, with no access for vehicles to properties either adjacent to or on the race route itself, including streets connected to the route that cannot be accessed from elsewhere.

“Anyone who is planning to travel on May 2 will need to ensure that they have parked their vehicle in an area where they can access the remaining open road network,” said a spokeswoman.

“No vehicles will be allowed to drive on or across the race route after road closures are in place.”