The Tour de France will bring great and long-lasting benefits to the areas it passes through.

Simon Myers, the lead member for the Tour on Craven District Council, said: “Three and a half billion people will see Skipton and the Dales on the television as a result of this.”

He said the result would be to promote the whole district. “For years to come, people will be coming here because they will have seen how fantastic it looked on the television,” said Councillor Myers.

People heading to Skipton for this weekend’s Tour de France are being promised a fun-filled weekend.

Billed as Skipton’s Le Grand Debaaaart, there will be two big screens, showing all the progress of the cycle race as it heads from Leeds to Harrogate, in addition to live music and bike simulators.

Action will take place both in the town hall car park, and in the canal basin, and will run from early in the morning on both Saturday and Sunday and into the evenings.

Skipton’s market will be moved from its usual Saturday to the Sunday, when there will also be a farmers’ market.

As an official spectator hub, up to 13,000 people are expected in the town to watch the cyclists race up the High Street on the Saturday.

Cycling pundit, Carl Lawrenson, will carry out a live commentary, and music will be provided by the Skipton Brass Band, singers, Rebecca Joy and Jen Armstrong, and vocalist, Paul Stone.

The race itself is due to come through the town itself at about 12.50pm but will be preceded by the ‘caravan’ – a number of sponsor vehicles, including many giving out mementoes of the world’s largest free sporting event.

Cyclists, Savage Skills, will also be performing BMX stunts.

Live coverage of the race will be screened also on a screen in the Canal Basin, and once it is over, there will be showings of Disney’s Frozen followed by Grease.

The weekend activities have been jointly organised by Craven District Council, Skipton Town Council and Skipton Business Improvement District (BID).

Coun Myers said: “Skipton is expected to attract large numbers of visitors, I would encourage all spectators to come early and plan to stay all day. It will be an unforgettable experience.”

And Councillor Chris Harbron, leader of Skipton Town Council, said: “The partnership of the two councils and the BID has allowed us to make sure Skipton is really geared up for Le Tour.

“There is plenty going on to keep people entertained across the whole town centre, it should be a fantastic weekend from start to finish.”

In the Dales many fields are being opened for people to park during the race, there are events in villages on the route and a cycling and music festival, Velofest, is being held at Kilnsey.

People planning to come to Craven are being advised to check for road closures, on North Yorkshire County Council’s website. Information on car parks, including temporary ones, is available on Craven District Council’s website.

There will also be a managed bicycle parking area in Aireville Park. There will also be a special viewing area for disabled spectators in front of Skipton Town Hall.

To register a place, contact Fiona Protheroe at the council on (01756) 706277, or fprotheroe@cravendc.go.uk.