CYCLING fans are hoping that the weather gods are smiling as Settle prepares to welcome some of the best professional riders in the world to the town when the Tour de Yorkshire arrives today.

Preparations have been going on for several weeks in the famous market town, with shops being decorated with a cycling theme and art installations being created to catch the eye.

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And excitement has been mounting as Settle gets ready to host the stage one finish of the three-day race today. It starts in Beverley at noon and arrives in Craven, at Hebden, at around 3.15pm.

The riders then race through Grassington, Threshfield, Cracoe, Gargrave, Hellifield and Long Preston, before arriving in Settle at about 4.15pm and embarking on a 10-kilometre loop that will bring them back to the finish line at around 4.40pm.

Some of the sport's top names, like 2012 Tour de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins, are taking part in what is the second edition of the race, inaugurated to build on the legacy of the Tour de France, which started in Yorkshire in 2014.

There is a strong British contingent, including national road race champion Peter Kennaugh, Team Sky's Luke Rowe and Tour de France stage winner Steve Cummings, as well as top continental names like Frenchman Thomas Voeckler, who has worn the Tour de France leader's yellow jersey 20 times, and last year's race winner Lars Petter Nordhaug of Team Sky.

There's plenty for cycling fans to relish then - but there will be just as many spectators lining the route simply to enjoy being part of an event which is being televised in 174 countries across the world.

And it's that kind of publicity which organisers are hoping will add an extra boost to the area's economic fortunes after the race has passed.

One new addition for this year’s race has been a ‘Line the Route’ land art competition that encourages businesses, landowners, schools, youth and community groups and individuals to celebrate the event with roadside installations.

Traders, meanwhile, have come up with some inventive ways to mark the event - Settle's Wholesome Bee health food shop, for example, has had a collage on display made simply from herbs and spices.

And Giggleswick School's Year 10 Product Design students have been working hard to on a 'kinetic bee' design sculpture to go on display at the store.

Residents and businesses have been asked to celebrate the Tour with a competition to find the best-dressed property.

And now towering over the town on Castleberg Crag, after being put up last week, is the town's name in giant yellow letters - in true 'Hollywood' style!

A team of local volunteer climbers hoisted the wooden letters - manufactured by Timberworks craftsmen in the town - into place.

Settle Railway Station is bedecked with Tour de Yorkshire knitted and crocheted pennants, made by Margaret Moss, a volunteer with the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle line, and her mum, Brenda Moss. There are 61 pennants in total, which each took about two hours to produce.

The community's efforts were commended by Settle Mayor Ian Robinson, who said: "Settle is embracing the spirit of the Tour... We are sure the day will be a success so fingers crossed for the riders and some good weather and that the sun will shine down on Settle; unfortunately the elements are beyond our control!”

For the last week the Y-shaped Tour de Yorkshire trophy, made by hand at trophy makers Thomas Fattorini Ltd, has been taken around schools and been on display in different locations in Settle.

Apart from the race itself, perhaps the most much-loved aspect of the event for spectators is the publicity caravan procession, which arrives well ahead of the cyclists to dispense goodies and gifts to those watching along the roadside.

The Tour de France caravan, as spectators saw in 2014 in Yorkshire, is so vast that it takes about two hours to pass any given point on the race route.

The Tour de Yorkshire caravan will not be quite as long, but will still be dispensing freebies to fans, and should be moving around 90 minutes ahead of the race.

Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “The publicity caravan features some of the best-loved brands in Yorkshire, as well as the official Tour de Yorkshire artist and charity, and will provide a welcome and exciting addition to the race."

Sir Gary has also been highly complimentary about Settle as a fitting place for the stage one finish.

He said: "Settle was chosen because it lends itself to an action-packed finale, especially as the course features a 10-kilometre loop around the town which will allow spectators to get a good look at the riders. And, of course, it also has a great outdoor and cycling background."

The race itself doesn't finish in Settle, of course - the following day's 136-km stage two starts in Otley and ends in Doncaster, with the third and last stage a 198-km race between Middlesbrough and Scarborough.

There is also a women's Tour de Yorkshire on exactly the same course and distance as the men's race from Otley to Doncaster, starting at 8.30am. Otley's world champion hero Lizzie Armitstead and Olympic riders Dani King and Emma Pooley are to compete in what has been billed as "the most lucrative women’s cycle race in the world," with a £50,000 prize pot on offer to individuals and teams.

The Tour is set to benefit the entire county, both in the short and long term, said North Yorkshire County Council leader Carl Les.

"We want to make sure that everything is in place to make it a huge success and ensure the race passes off smoothly for everyone – the competitors, the spectators, and all other residents and highways users. We are doing all we can to make sure that it is successful and that as far as possible disruption for everyone who needs to use our roads over the weekend of April 29 to May 1 is kept to a minimum.”

Further information about the Tour, including road closures, can be found at letouryorkshire.com and www.northyorks.gov.uk/tour.