RESIDENTS in Ryedale and the North Yorkshire coast are being warned to plan ahead of the area hosting the first stage of an international cycling race.

North Yorkshire County Council said while some roads in the area would be closed for between two and 12 hours for the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire on Friday, May 1, it expected tailbacks to form due to rolling road closures across the route.

One million fans are expected to line the route to see Sir Bradley Wiggins leading his own team for the first time and cyclists German sprinter Marcel Kittel, 2008 Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez and breakaway specialist Thomas Voeckler in action for the three stages of the race.

The council is advising spectators planning to line the route, which will be covered by parking restrictions, to arrive early.

The council's leader, Councillor John Weighell, said: “This is a fantastic event which builds on last year’s Tour de France, and once again the benefits to North Yorkshire will be enormous, both in the immediate term and the longer term.”

The first stage of the race will see riders departing Bridlington at noon, before heading to East Ayton, Hackness, Dalby Forest and Pickering.

Large crowds are expected to gather on the hills and the race is set to reach the first climb, the Côte de Dalby Forest, at around 1.15pm, before an ascent at Rosedale Abbey an hour later The race heads northwards through Rosedale before heading east along the Esk Valley to Whitby, and the authority has warned here may be queuing traffic on the A171 and A169 approaches to the town.

There will be road closures in Whitby around the harbour area to allow for the installation and removal of race infrastructure and to ensure crowd and rider safety.

Closures will be in place from noon to 5pm on New Quay Road, Whitby Swing Bridge, Bridge Street and Church Street.

The race will pass through Robin Hood’s Bay before heading towards Scarborough, where roads including Royal Albert Drive, Valley Road and Foreshore Drive, will be closed ahead of a sprint finish on the seafront at around 4.30pm.

The second stage of the race will pass from Selby to York the following day, before the riders race from Wakefield to Leeds on May 3.

Eleven-time Paralympic champion Dame Sarah Storey will feature in the women's event on May 2, which includes four 20km laps around York.