CYCLISTS tackling this year's Tour de Yorkshire Ride, the public "sportive" ride which takes place on the last day of the Tour, have been set a mountainous challenge.

Sponsor Maserati is offering all participants the opportunity to compare themselves to British ex-pro cyclist and Maserati cycling ambassador David Millar, in the new "King of the Mountains" timed climb.

David has set the time to beat on the Côte de Harwood Dale climb that plays host to this year’s climb, on which both the sportive participants and the pro-riders later in the day will be timed.

The Côte de Harwood Dale is a 1.3km climb, with an average gradient of 7.4 per cent and a maximum gradient of 16 per cent.

David, who is one of only two Britons to have worn the leader's jersey at all three of the Grand Tours, tackled the climb in three minutes 57 seconds.

Maserati will also be offering complimentary King of the Mountains climb photographs to all 6,000 riders. Each rider will be photographed at the finish line of the climb and then their image will be edited alongside David Millar with their respective times.

David Millar said: "The Côte de Harwood Dale climb is a particularly British climb – it isn’t the sort of climb we experience in continental bike racing and that’s because it's in ramps. It will be a fantastic opportunity to compare yourself to the pro riders, who will set their times on the same climb later that day.

"Don’t forget to smile when you cross the finish line."

The 2016 Maserati Tour de Yorkshire Ride offers riders the choice of a 40km, 85km, 119km ride routes - all of which take place on the same day and on many of the same roads as the third and final stage of the Tour de Yorkshire Pro race. The ride will start at Cleveland Way, Scarborough.

Limited places remain. To register for the ride on Sunday, May 1, go to letour.yorkshire.com/maserati-tour-de-yorkshire-ride.

Elsewhere, a programme of sport, arts and cultural events has been announced to celebrate the arrival of the Tour.

Musicians, street performers and singers will be on hand to entertain spectators in Scarborough at the end of Stage Three. The packed programme of events will feature performances by the Coastival choir outside the Rotunda Museum, a vintage band and music stage with Yorkshire Coast College on South Bay, and street theatre, as well as an after party at Farrer's Bar and Brasserie at Scarborough Spa.

Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: "The Tour de Yorkshire offers a unique opportunity for towns across the county to showcase themselves to the world, and as we enter into the last month of preparations I am sure that local communities will be vying to create exciting land art, fun and engaging street decorations and an atmosphere to remember."

For more information visit letouryorkshire.com.