MINIMAL disruption is promised as the Tour de Yorkshire cycle race blasts past Wharfedale’s landmarks on Sunday.

The third stage of the inaugural race will take cyclists from Wakefield to Leeds, tackling steep terrain and passing through scenic countryside and local towns and villages.

Residents and visitors to Wharfedale can expect some road closures, say organisers, but not on the scale of the all-day closures seen for the Grand Depart of the Tour de France last summer.

Much of the race is expected to pass through Wharfedale swiftly, via ‘rolling closures’ led by police moving ahead of the peloton, with roads opening again after the race has passed.

Travellers are asked to allow extra time if they are heading to Leeds Bradford International Airport for afternoon and evening flights.

But local people are also advised of some longer-term closures and parking restrictions on the day, and are advised to be on the lookout for thousands of cyclists passing through the area as part of the associated Maserati Tour de Yorkshire Ride.

This ride will take place on open roads along the route of the race, but is not expected to result in road closures.

Local Tour de Yorkshire-related activities coordinators in Addingham have warned that 4,000 amateur riders are expected through the village in the morning, although 15,000 applied for a place, leading to speculation that many thousands more may choose to follow the ride informally.

“Please ensure your friends and family are aware of this if planning a visit,” says The Tour Addingham group.

Two all-day road closures expected on the day include Main Street in Addingham and The Grove in Ilkley. These will be closed from 9am to 5pm, with parking restrictions beginning earlier in the morning.

The race is expected to arrive in Addingham at about 3.30pm. It will head in on the A6034 from Silsden, across the Addingham bypass roundabout and along the B6160 Silsden Road into the village. It will continue along Main Street, before joining the A65 to head into Ilkley.

It will leave the A65 at Bolton Bridge Road to swing into The Grove, continue along Station Road and climb up Cowpasture Road and Hangingstone Road past the Cow and Calf Rocks.

The route then heads over Moor Road, passing Burley Woodhead, descending through the centre of Menston, then crossing the A65 Bradford Road to climb West Chevin Road. It skirts the edge of the Chevin in Birdcage Walk and East Chevin Road, before joining the A658 to head down Pool Bank New Road into Pool-in-Wharfedale, and onto the A659 to Arthington.

Unlike the Tour de France, there will be no official spectator hubs in the district. However, spectators will be able to watch the race anywhere along the route, with some fantastic places for both the race and the sportive. For the pro race some of the best places include Silsden, Addingham, Ilkley town centre and the Cow and Calf rocks. Visitor information centres in Haworth and Ilkley will be open from 10am to 5pm.

A Bradford Council spokesman said: “In order to minimise disruption to residents during the Tour de Yorkshire, most of the route will be managed using rolling road closures, planned to last no more than an hour.

“There will be certain key areas within the district where due to the nature of the landscape and for the safety of riders and spectators, sections of the route will need to be closed to vehicles.”

Visit letour.yorkshire.com for more information.