Sir Bradley: “It’s nice to be here”

There was a huge welcome for the new race, as thousands of people lined the streets around the start at The Spa.

Before the race, organiser Christian Preud’homme told crowds: “The Tour de Yorkshire is very important to us. I am very happy to be here for the first time in my life in Bridlington.

“I have been on the beach and it is very nice and there are so many people here and there will be along the route all day.

“Cycling is really having such a boom in the UK at the minute.”

The first team to be introduced to the crowds outside Bridlington Spa were Raleigh GAC and British rider Ian Wilkinson said: “This is a massive race for all the British teams.”

One of the biggest cheers was for Yorkshire’s Ben Swift, who is riding for Team Sky. He said: “Yorkshire has some really tough roads to race on but we will give it a good go.”

And Sir Bradley Wiggins told fans: “It’s nice to be here, as the first time as a team. We’ll see how the next three days go.”