Stage Two of the Tour de Yorkshire 2018 will go from Barnsley to Ilkley and is the shortest stage of the Tour de Yorkshire next year, but includes a punishing climb to the finish line at the Cow and Calf - 249m!

On 4 May, the stage will pass through Swinton, South Elmsall - its first appearance on the tour - Pontefract, Scholes, Otley and Ilkley.

The men will cover 149km and the women 124km - in the second and final stage for them.

Here's the route for the men:

Image source, Tour de Yorkshire

And the women:

Image source, Tour de Yorkshire

As we've already mentioned, the finish line for the stage is a strength-sapping 249m climb to the Cow and Calf.

But other climbs include Cote de Blacker Hill and Cote de Old Pool Bank which will reach an altitude of 171m.

Here's how they look:

Image source, Tour de Yorkshire

Gary Verity said the theme for the stage is "Yorkshire heritage" - it's the first time that Barnsley has been featured as a host town.

The details of the first stage of this year's Tour de Yorkshire have just been revealed at a media conference at the Piece Hall in Halifax.

Stage one will be on 3 May and take in Beverley, Pocklington, Howden, Hatfield (for the first time) and will end in Doncaster.

The men will have 182km in front of them from the start line in Beverley and the women will have 132.5km.

Here's the route for the men:

Image source, Tour de Yorkshire

And here's the route women will compete on:

Image source, Tour de Yorkshire

The men are doing an extra loop out of Beverley over to Hornsea and back to Beverley, it is set to be a very flat first day which should be a good start for Cavendish.

Only one real climb to look out for, the Cote de Baggaby Hill.

Here's how it looks on the climbs front:

Image source, Tour de Yorkshire

So it's all under way...

We've just had a lot of introductions and applause for the big names of cycling who have turned up for the Tour de Yorkshire 2018 route announcements.

Guess who got the biggest cheer?:

Over the next hour, we'll find out exactly where the Tour de Yorkshire will go as the four stages are revealed.

You can watch the whole thing live as it happens at the Piece Hall in Halifax here:

As we wait for the big announcements on the four stages of next year's Tour de Yorkshire we can tell you Mark Cavendish has arrived.

He's set to ride in the race next year for the first time.

Here's the scene at the Piece Hall in Halifax right now:

National Crime Agency investigators are keen to trace a man thought to have links to Yorkshire, in connection with a number of large-scale drug deals.

The appeal follows the seizure of 40kgs of cocaine.

Image source, National Crime Agency

If cut and sold the drugs would have had a likely potential street value of £4.8m.

The haul was concealed in a false floor inside freight crates and was destined for a freight forwarding company based near Manchester Airport.

Investigators have identified 118 previous consignments which made exactly the same journey.

Each time the same man (pictured) collected the consignments, using the name Ian Allen.

NCA Operations Manager Jon Hughes said: “Ian Allen may be an alias but we do know that this individual has extensive links to Manchester and West Yorkshire.

“It is important we speak to him and urge anyone who has any information about his whereabouts to come forward."

Former world cycling champion Mark Cavendish was on his way to the announcement of the Tour de Yorkshire stage routes a little earlier this morning.

On his way up, looks like Mark got the best seat on the train!

By the way, we'll be bringing you all the latest from the big reveals for the stages after 11:00.

As we wait for the announcements of where exactly the Tour de Yorkshire will be going next year, let's remind ourselves of where it went this year!:

Police say they are worried about a 22-year-old Leeds man who has gone missing.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Joshua Wilson was last seen yesterday.

Det Insp Ciaran Whoriskey said: “We are concerned for Joshua’s welfare and need the public’s help in reporting any sightings or information about his whereabouts."

This has to be one of the most touching moments from the racing in last year's Tour de Yorkshire.

The women's race winner Lizzie Deignan tweeted her delight at winning:

As we wait to find out where the Tour de Yorkshire will be going next year, let's have a quick reminder of some of the land art from this year.

It's something that anyone can get involved in and it has been inspired by the art lining the route of the Tour de France each year:

Image source, Welcome to Yorkshire

Image source, Welcome to Yorkshire

Image source, Welcome to Yorkshire

Image source, Getty Images

Who knows what was going on in Tadcaster, but here's a skeleton on a bike with a dog in a basket. Yep...

Today we're going to find out where 2018's Tour de Yorkshire will pass by and through.

We'll find out shortly and don't forget that next year's race will be run over four days instead of three, with eight areas selected to be hosts.

Image source, PA

But before we find out where they'll be going in 2018, here are some of the best pictures from this year's race:

Stay tuned, we'll bring you all the latest as the stage routes are announced.

Image source, PA

Image source, Getty Images

And let's not forget that photo finish at the end of stage one in Scarborough:

Image source, Tour de Yorkshire

Mick Lunney
BBC Local Live, Sheffield

The RMT union is balloting its members for both strike action and action short of a strike on Virgin East Coast.

The union says it comes after the company decided to impose a pay offer that had previously been rejected by the workforce.

Ballot papers will be sent out on Friday.

Image source, Geoff Shepherd

We've approached Virgin East Cost for comment.

Mick Lunney
BBC Local Live, Sheffield

An end to room-sharing in houses of multiple occupancy is expected to be brought in by Barnsley Council.

The move follows reports of anti-social behaviour, serious assaults and threatening behaviour.

If introduced, the new measures will allow only adults who are related or cohabiting to share rooms in such properties.

The council's cabinet will consider a report, external next week.

North Yorkshire Police have confirmed a woman’s body had been found on Whitby beach.

Officers are currently working to confirm her identity.

The body was discovered by a dog walker at 07:30 this morning.

Police raised concerns that the head of a Roman Catholic boarding school in Yorkshire, tried to "control" a child sex abuse investigation, an inquiry has heard.

Image source, Google

A former North Yorkshire detective said officers were "excluded" from inquiries at Ampleforth College in 1995 and 2002.

But former head teacher Father Leo Chamberlain denied influencing a boy's parents during a phone call in 1995.

He told the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse there had been "no skulduggery".

The Catholic Church is one of 13 public organisations being scrutinised by the inquiry, which is being headed by Prof Alexis Jay.

A scooter rider has been left with serious injuries after a collision in Leeds this morning.

Police say the incident happened at 03:50 on Dewsbury Road, at the junction with Trentham Street, when the bike and a dark-coloured Volkswagen collided.

Image source, Google

The bike – a Pulse 125 Lightspeed - was being ridden along Dewsbury Road towards Leeds.

Officers say as a result of the incident "the scooter rider was left with serious injuries".

The car did not stop at the scene of the accident.

Any witnesses to the incident, or who saw the vehicles immediately before the incident, should contact police.

Mick Lunney
BBC Local Live, Sheffield

A closure notice has been served on a massage parlour in Sheffield following five arrests.

Image source, Google

Police raided properties in Hillsborough and Rotherham as part of an operation to tackle human trafficking.

Pandora's Massage Parlour on Attercliffe Road has been ordered to remain closed until a court hearing on Friday, at which the police will ask for it to remain closed for three months.

Meanwhile, the five people arrested by police are due to appear at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday 20 December.

The finish of the Tour de Yorkshire cycle race next year will be on The Headrow in the centre of Leeds.

The event will finish in the city centre after four days of hard riding around the region.

The women's race will also be extended from one day to two days.

Earlier this morning it emerged that world class rider Mark Cavendish will be riding on the event.

Gina Bolton
BBC Radio Sheffield

It's been confirmed that a body found on Friday in the Wincobank area of Sheffield is that of Angela Simmonite.

The 57-year-old from Ecclesfield went missing from her home the previous weekend.

Her death is not being treated as suspicious.