SPECTATORS wanting to watch the Tour de France in York on Sunday have been advised on the best places to go.

Spectator Hubs are situated at Huntington Stadium, Rowntree Park and the Designer Outlet at Fulford, and are all free and unticketed, said a spokeswoman for City of York Council.

"Tickets for a fourth Hub at York Racecourse were issued earlier this year and were snapped up within hours," she said.

The Hubs will open at 8am, apart from the Racecourse where they open at 7am, and stay open until about 7.30pm, and all will have catering, entertainment, a Sports Activation Zone to explore York’s cycling and other sporting opportunities as well as large viewing screens for the cycling action.

Spectators at the racecourse will be entertained byThe Rubettes and The Stranglers, as well as family and sporting activities throughout the day.

First to leave the Racecourse on Sunday will be the Tour de France ‘caravan’, a 440-vehicle procession, many handing out gifts and freebies, which will leave at 9am and is expected to last approximately for an hour and a half, passing along the same route as the cyclists.

Cyclists will leave York Racecourse at 11am, and will cycle - not race - through York to the edge of the city just before the A1237/A59 junction, where the race officially starts.

"Spectators planning to view the race in York are encouraged to plan their journey in advance and visit www.itravelyork.info for Tour de France-related travel information," she said.

"Spectators should allow extra time for travel on the day and are encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport wherever possible."