Excited crowds welcome cyclists Wiggins and Cavendish
Excited crowds welcomed British cycling heroes Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish to the Midlands today.
The Tour de France winner and sprint world champion sped past onlookers who roared the pair on as the Tour of Britain came through Staffordshire.
A cavalcade of more than 50 police motorcyclists careered through the outskirts of Stafford and on to the woods of Cannock Chase to herald the riders' arrival.
A vantage point was set up at the top of a hill near Springslade Lodge, a cafe popular with cyclists on Camp Road.
Student Alex Fox, 19, from Alrewas, sporting a Bradley Wiggins mask, was there with friends Matt Thomas and Henry Whitfield, both 18, who waved a union flag as the riders passed by. A vantage point was set up at the top of a hill near Springslade Lodge, a cafe popular with cyclists on Camp Road.
Alex said: "This is a special year. I'm a cycling fan but I've just gone out and bought a new bike this summer because I've been so excited about the success of the British team."
Deputy nursery manager Dan Kemsley, aged 29, of Shifnal, arranged his rota so he would have the day off to watch the race.
He said: "That was brilliant, I loved it. Cannock Chase is definitely a great place to watch the race - it's the first time it's come through here."
The epic race was today passing through Stone, Stafford, Cannock Chase and Rugeley, with highlights including the sprint section out of Stone and King of the Mountains stretch through the Chase.
Thousands of people lined the streets and road closures were in place two hours before the riders went through.
