RESIDENTS and businesses across the district are being invited to a Tour de Yorkshire roadshow as the county gears up to host the new international cycle race.

The event will take place at the Clarke Foley Centre in Ilkley on Wednesday from 6.30pm to 8pm.

The roadshow, which is one of a series being run by Welcome to Yorkshire and local authorities, will give information, facts and advice on how to make the most of the world-class event.

They will also give advice about brand guidelines and key dos and don’ts for businesses.

Chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, Gary Verity, said: “We saw a huge appetite for all things Yorkshire last year when we hosted the Tour de France, and this new race will bring back some of the world’s best teams.

“This means spectators from far and wide and the most fantastic advert our county can wish for – global television coverage.

“The roadshows will help businesses prepare in the run-up to the event, race days themselves and of course long into the future as we estab-lish Yorkshire as Europe’s number one cycling destination.”

Stage three of the new race takes place on May 3 on more than 40km of the area’s roads, taking in Oxenhope, Haworth, Oakworth, Laycock, Silsden, Addingham, Ilkley, the Cow and Calf Rocks, Burley Woodhead, Otley Chevin and Menston.

The race will start about noon each day and you can watch anywhere along the route for free.

To register for a place, visit letour.yorkshire.com/road shows.