RESIDENTS and visitors are being urged to plan ahead for when the Tour de Yorkshire visits York next month, causing the closure of numerous roads.

Stage two of the inaugural cycle race - which follows on from the successful Tour de France Grand Depart last year - will finish in the city on the afternoon of Saturday May 2.

The riders, who will have set off earlier that day from Selby and then raced through the East Riding of Yorkshire, will enter York from the A166 before taking on two and a half laps of a 20km finishing circuit, which will take them on a circuit from Murton near the A64 to the finish line on Knavesmire Road. The finish is expected to be between 3.30 and 4pm.

A professional women’s race will also cover five laps of the same 20km finishing circuit in the morning, with the race starting at 11am on Knavesmire Road, and the route will be closed from 8am until about 5pm, or as soon as possible after the race has finished.

City of York Council has warned that while roads are closed, there will be no access for vehicles to properties either adjacent to or on the race route itself, including streets within the race circuit area or connected to the route that can not be accessed from elsewhere.

"Anyone who is planning to travel on Saturday 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. Residents are also advised to pass this information to anyone intending to visit them during the weekend."

A large proportion of local bus routes will be operating on diversion, with a majority of services calling at one of the two ‘Bus Hubs’ located at Fawcett street near York Barbican and York Station/ Station Road.

As the race approaches York, it will take in the A166 Stamford Bridge Road, Straight Lane, Holtby and Holtby Lane.

The race circuit in York will take in the following roads: Bad Bargain Lane, Moor Lane, Murton, Murton Lane, Murton Way, Osbaldwick Village, Osbaldwick Lane, Tang Hall Lane, Melrosegate, East Parade, Hawthorne Grove, Layerthorpe, Foss Islands Road, Barbican Road, Paragon Street, Fishergate, Castle Mills Bridge, Tower Street, Skeldergate Bridge, Bishopgate Street, Bishopthorpe Road, Campleshon Road, Knavesmire Road, Mount Vale, The Mount, Blossom Street, Micklegate, Bridge Street, Low Ousegate, Nessgate, Coppergate, Pavement, Stonebow, Peasholme Green, Foss Bank, Heworth Green, Stockton Lane, Stockton Road and Holtby Lane.