A RACECOURSE has been selected as one of just 17 official spectator hubs to watch the Tour de France when the Grand Depart hits North Yorkshire in July.

The Grand Depart Spectator Hubs have been selected to provide the perfect race experience for everyone, from the smallest holding 1,500 people, to the largest with room for more than 15,000.

Ripon Racecourse has teamed up with Ripon’s Market Place offering a capacity for 10,000 spectators.

The racecourse has its own permanent big screen which will be showing all the live action from the race, along with refreshments and entertainment for the children with fairground rides and bouncy castles.

Ripon Racecourse is also offering on the day parking as well as a variety of camping pitches for the big event, with camping available from Tuesday, July 1 to Tuesday, July 8 in pitches from £150.

There is no additional cost for caravans or motorhomes.

Erin Boswell, marketing executive at Ripon Racecourse, said “It’s great to have the world’s biggest cycling race coming to Yorkshire and to have it on our doorstep is just fantastic.

“We are lucky to have all the facilities for camping and the spectator hub already in place, and we hope the spectators will stay with us for the Monday evening’s racing so we can show them what else North Yorkshire has to offer.”

For details of the camping facilities and all bookings visit www.yorkshire-camping.co.uk.