Hundreds line Yarm High Street for Tour of Britain 2024

Schoolchildren, grandparents, and dog walkers alike gathered on the high street cobbles for the popular racing event on Wednesday (September 4) morning.

The event - officially called the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain - kicked off from Darlington at 11am where racers faced a 152km route to Redcar travelling through the likes of Stokesley and Whitby. 

Yarm was one of the first stop-offs for the race - and onlookers had their eyes fixed on Yarm Bridge as they awaited the first glimpse of the action.Cyclists passing through Yarm during the race (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Crowds gathered in Yarm for the event (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

It was 11.22am when the excited crowds first saw the sea of cyclists emerge from Eaglescliffe - led by a major convoy of police cars and bikes. 

Cheers rang out amongst the crowds as the cyclists passed, while many took out their phone to grab a quick video of the cyclists darting along the street. 

And it was a matter of seconds before the 18 teams had already made their way past St Mary and St Romuald Church and off towards the leafy suburbs of the town. 

Sheelagh and Michael Field, with granddaughter Martha (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

“It was lovely to see so many people out in Yarm,” Susan Cole said on Wednesday. “It was a lovely event and I really enjoyed it.

“We saw all the adverts so we just couldn’t miss out. It was nice to see so much community spirit - everyone was chatting.”

The Eaglescliffe resident continued: “There were more people here than I thought - and all the schoolchildren were very well behaved.

Jim and Val, from Middleton St George (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

“They come through at some speed - the police were really well organised and so well coordinated. It’s like they’d done it before!”

Meanwhile, Alan and Barbara Staples, who were enjoying a perch on a bench outside the Town Hall after the event, said they enjoyed the quick glimpse of the action on Wednesday. 

Barbara, from Yarm, said: “It was very good. We’ve watched it before at Whitby, but won’t be going anywhere else today. 

“All I saw was a whoosh and then they were gone! It’s good for the town too because different people come to visit.”

Paul Wilson and Shaun Sutton, both from Yarm (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO) Dorothy Brown, 83, from Eaglescliffe (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Also watching from the sidelines was Jim and Val, from Middleton St George, who came to watch the cycling after enjoying a spot of breakfast in Yarm.

They were joined by Paul Wilson and Shaun Sutton, both from Yarm, who decided to get out and see the racers pass through too. 

John and Pauline Steinmetz, 73 and 71, and Maurine and Craig Harrison, both 67, stood together by the Town Hall awaiting the racers. 

John and Pauline Steinmetz, 73 and 71, and Maurine and Craig Harrison, both 67 (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Maurine - who said the group is also going to watch the race at Saltburn Bank later in the afternoon, said: “We’ve come down to see the cycling. 

“It’s great for the area and we have got to support it!”

Sheelagh and Michael Field, also popped along to the High Street with granddaughter Martha, having not travelled too far from their home in Middlesbrough. 

The event kicked off in Darlington (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Paul Magnier, 20, wore the leader’s jersey for the second stage on Wednesday, leading the pack having triumphed on day one in Scotland. 

Alongside the 18 teams, he faced some tricky terrain for the second stage in our region, with the route including unclassified climbs around Commondale, Castleton, and Danby, and even a 300-metre climb up the famous Saltburn Bank. 

Cyclists are expected to reach Redcar by 3pm, where they will be greeted by a fan village featuring food, drink and entertainment throughout the day.