Scores of British cycling fans lined the streets as the Tour de Yorkshire returned this week.
A historic tour marked the first time that women rode two stages and men rode four, with the second-stage climax a summit finish.
It also represented sprinter Mark Cavendish’s return from injury, with the tough course providing a test of fitness as he watched local hero Harry Tanfield storm to victory in the first stage, 92 places ahead of him.
This disappointment was then compounded as he finished stage three in Scarborough more than eight minutes after stage-winner Max Walsheid.
Further disappointment was endured by Commonwealth Games medallist Katie Archibald, who crashed out on stage two and was taken to hospital as a precaution after hitting her head – she was seen clutching her shoulder.
The Scot is a track specialist and suffered a sorry end to a rare venture onto the road, especially after such a successful season thus far.
In the men’s race, Tanfield led the first stage, which traversed from Beverley to Doncaster, but could not replicate his outstanding performance the following day in the 149km trip from Barnsley to Ilkley.
Scarborough’s third stage saw Walscheid steal the show but Magnus Cort Nielsen clung on to the Yorkshire Bank and Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries leader’s jersey ahead of Sunday’s finale, a gruelling final stage between Halifax and Leeds covering 189.5km.
Huge crowds enjoyed the spectacle of a sensational solo effort from Stephan Rossetto today, who covered more than 100km on his own amidst aggressive attacks from the pack, and deservedly earned a stage victory in Leeds.
And it was Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet who won the general classification and consequently claimed the Tour de Yorkshire crown.
The women’s race rode concomitantly to the men’s first stage, with Kirsten Wild arriving in Doncaster first and Welsh rider Dani Rowe claiming some bonus seconds to sit fourth in the general classification.
Stage two saw the culmination of the women’s race, a summit finish in Ilkley reached after a brutal 128km slog. Rowe finished second behind American race winner Megan Guarnier.
Image credit: SWpix Sportsbeat 2018