Tour times revealed

The world’s best cyclists will race through Kirklees on July 6 in stage two of the Grand Depart. Stage one goes from Leeds to Harrogate on July 5.

The second day will see riders set off from York at 11am and are expected to be in Ripponden at around 2pm. The peleton will then drop into Kirklees at Elland and up to Ainley Top, arriving in Hudddersfield at around 2.30pm.

Riders will whizz through the Holme Valley before taking on Holme Moss, a gruelling hill which will be the toughest challenge of the day. The quickest men will be at the top by 2.49pm before completing the stage in Sheffield city centre just after 4pm.

Road closures for day two have not yet been announced but cycling devotee and Mayor of Kirklees Martyn Bolt advised people to plan ahead if they wanted to make the most of the spectacle. He added: “People are going to have to get in place really early. You won’t just be able to turn up.

“I suggest people take the European approach and go and have a picnic and a little bit of a party.”

Coun Bolt helped to bring the Grand Depart to Yorkshire, along with Mirfield cycling legend Brian Robinson. Coun Bolt said: “This is the world’s biggest free sporting event. Where else could you see the world’s elite athletes for free? This will be cycling at its best.”

For amateur cyclists who want to climb Holme Moss, Coun Bolt organises a 70-mile cycling challenge around the South Pennines. He has managed the Brian Robinson Challenge for eight years, with the number of riders averaging 300.

This year’s event will start at Huddersfield New College on April 27. Cash raised is donated to the Mayor’s charity, One Community, a Kirklees grant-giving organisation.