SOME of the world's top cyclists wheeled in - and out - of Huddersfield when the Tour of Britain came to town.

And it was all over in a whirl of speed and colourful Lycra!

Ninety-six professional riders passed through the area after setting off from Leeds at 10.30am yesterday.

They made their way through Keighley and Halifax, averaging 25mph.

They arrived in Huddersfield town centre at 1pm, then passed through Lockwood on their way to Holmfirth.

The leading riders arrived in Holmbridge at 1.30pm, followed 10 minutes later by the rest of the group.

After whizzing by waiting villagers they began the gruelling climb up towards Holme Moss, where hundreds of spectators were ready to cheer them on.

The riders - flanked by a cavalcade of police bikes, cars and support vehicles - then made their way through Glossop, Snake Pass and Millstone Edge, before finishing at Sheffield at 3pm.

Although some spectators came by car to catch a glimpse of the riders, keen cyclists got on their bikes for the occasion.

Some had cycled from as far away as Lincolnshire.

One was 68-year-old Tom Brittenden, of Normanton, who cycled from Huddersfield to Holmbridge to watch the spectacle.

Mr Brittenden - who can still ride 80 miles in a day - said: "I came on the train here to cycle and I've been over Holme Moss and Marsden. I will be riding back home.

"I decided to stop and watch the race.

"It's very interesting, because cycling is not just about speed. There is a lot of strategy too."

Wooldale couple Geoff and Dorothy Foster also stopped to see the cyclists.

Mrs Foster said: "We used to cycle; that's why we like to watch. But we never raced like this!"

Donald Smith and Brian Armitage, both from Wetherby, have been attending the race since they were children.

Mr Smith said: "We've been coming since we could pedal - though we cheated today and got the train."

Mr Armitage said: "It doesn't have the same profile as the Tour de France, but it gets the public interested in cycling."

The Tour of Britain - which began in Glasgow on August 30 - will move on to Nottingham today and to Birmingham tomorrow. It finishes in London on Sunday.