The women's race between Otley and Doncaster is being contested by 17 teams, including eight British teams.

Image source, Welcome to Yorkshire

Among those to keep an eye on are; World Champion Lizzie Armitstead; Dame Sarah Storey, in the pink and black of Team Podium Ambition; and Team GB 's 2012 Olympic gold medallist Danielle King, racing for Wiggle High5.

Other top riders include Kirsten Wild, Emma Pooley, Shelley Olds and Marta Bastianelli.

World Champion cyclist Lizzie Armitstead has tweeted about her excitement ahead of today's women's race from her home town of Otley to Doncaster.

And it look's like she can count on at least one very special supporter!

Over the three days of this year's event, the cycle race will cover 515.5km (320 miles), passing through parts of East, North, South and West Yorkshire.

Today's stage will see male and female cyclists ride the same route, external for the first time.

One of the highlights of the 136km ride will be passing close to Conisbrough Castle (pictured).

The women's race, external starts in Otley at 08:15 with the ceremonial start before the real start at 08:30. It finishes in Doncaster at about midday. The men's race, external moves off at 14:30 and ends at about 17:30.

Oliver Wright
BBC News Online, Yorkshire

Welcome to our live coverage of the Tour de Yorkshire cycle race.

Today's second leg begins in the home town of Olympic cyclist and 2014's Otley Grand Prix winner, Lizzie Armitstead (pictured).

Image source, EPA

Past Harewood, the start of last year's Grand Depart, riders should be able to pick up speed as the route loops to the east of Leeds before heading south towards Pontefract and into South Yorkshire for a finish in Doncaster.

We'll be bringing you updates from along the route until 18:00 and we'd love to see your pictures.

You can get in touch by Twitter using #bbctdy.