The Tour de Yorkshire starts today bringing world class racing to the region.

The Tour embarks from Beverley at 11.50am and the 185km stage includes two sprint points at Bubwith and Giggleswick, a stiff climb over Greenhow Hill - which will count towards the 'King of the Mountain' title.

The day ends in Settle, after passing through Tadcaster, Wetherby, Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge.

Stage two begins from Otley on Saturday and includes two sprint points at Scholes and Warmsworth; three King and Queen of the Mountain climbs at Harewood Bank, East Rigton and Conisbrough Castle - with a total ascent of 1,110m.

The women’s race which starts in the morning follows the same route as the men, who set off at 2.30pm.

On Sunday, the teams ride out from Middlesbrough before passing through Stokesley, Northallerton, Thirsk, Helmsley, Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay and finishing in Scarborough.

The stage is 198km with sprint points at Thirsk and Whitby Abbey and a six King of the Mountain climbs at Sutton Bank, Blakey Ridge, Grosmont, Robin Hood’s Bay, Harwood Dale and Oliver’s Mount, with a total ascent of 2,593m over the stage.

David Beeley, owner of Big Bear Bikes in Pickering, said the many hill climbs on day three would make it a good spectator event, with several panoramic viewpoints.

The first King of the Mountain section is Sutton Bank, where the A170 between Thirsk and Helmsley climbs a one in four gradient.

“It’s not that steep for these cyclists, but it’s just so long and there’s very little rest on it. There’s only really one flat section,” he said.

After the race has passed, Sutton Bank will be closed to traffic for several hours so the public can take on the climb.

David said the next good vantage point is Blakey Ridge, overlooking Rosedale and Farndale.

The race then passes through Grosmont, where there’s another steep climb, followed by a drop to Sleights.

Between Whitby and Scarborough is Reasty Bank at Harwood Dale, which is included in the Maserati Tour de Yorkshire sportive section. Former Tour de France commentator David Millar has ridden up the hill and set a time and on Sunday, members of the public can see if they can beat it.

There will also be a picturesque climb out of Robin Hood’s Bay.

David said: “With the last day being quite long it gives you a chance to maybe see it in more than one place, you might even have time to get to Scarborough to see the big finish.”