They came from all corners of the globe - or just to the end of their driveway - to see the iconic Holme Moss climb.
Tens of thousands packed the steep and narrow ascent and the summit itself for a once-in-a-life time show.
Yorkshire became a little piece of France - and the Tour can never have been as brilliant, wacky and fun as this.
Tour groupies mingled with the uninitiated who were just out for the experience of one of the world’s biggest sporting events, and what a spectacle it was.
Holme Moss embraced the Tour and partied like never before.
They came from the United States, Australia, India, Spain, New Zealand and, of course, France.
But everyone agreed - in whatever their native tongue - that Le Tour showed off Yorkshire at its magnificent best - and most eccentric.
There was a bloke dressed as a banana, Obi Wan Kenobi had the force with him and there were the obligatory bogus Frenchmen with garlands of onions.
Forget the professionals, the prize for the most committed - and slightly mad - biker was Julian Barrow who reached the Holme Moss summit - on a unicycle.
Julian, 50, of Fartown, a unicyclist for 20 years, rides a bike with a massive 36in wheel.
Expecting a reaction he wore a T-shirt with the slogan: “I know I only have one wheel!”
Asked why he had unicycled to the summit, he said: “Because I can and because I’m a show off.”
That’s a blunt Yorkshireman for you. And Julian wasn’t the only one to enter into the spirit.
Paul Saxton, 26, of Holme, sat astride a yellow bike bracketed atop the former Holme Castle hotel, some 40ft up.
He got a stunning bird’s eye view and said: “You could see for miles. Holme Moss was heaving.”
Tour fans Rick and Joan Bidgood came all the way from the United States. More precisely Sugar Hill, New Hampshire (pop 500).
“We have followed the Tour for seven years,” said Rick, 63. “We have relatives in Barnsley so it was the ideal opportunity.”
The couple settled in on the roadside in Holme, having been to Harrogate on Saturday.
“Yorkshire has done a fabulous job hosing the Tour,” added Rick. “The way people have got into the spirit has been superb, better than France. And the welcome couldn’t have been friendlier.”
Residents in Holme didn’t have as far to travel. Many set up camp at the end of their drives.
Ian and Linda Saxton had an open house, within touching distance of the passing peleton.
“We’ll never see the like again,” said Ian, who even provided rubbish bins for passing visitors and bowls of water for parched pooches.
Further down Dave Trueman, 38, offered some free entertainment. He had music blaring from speakers all day and on Saturday night a surprise fireworks display had campers leaping from their tents in a mixture of shock and awe.
Neighbours Michael Storry and wife Dot had friends Chris and Val Williams round.
Michael said: “We could have gone somewhere else but there’s something to be said for sitting at your own gateway.
“It’s re-created the London Olympic spirit.”
Malcolm Kaye and Carol Chapman only ventured from New Mill and Scholes and Carol said: “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event. You get to see more on TV but you don’t get the experience.
“Remember Last of the Summer Wine. I didn’t particularly like the programme but I always loved the scenery. It makes you realise how lucky we are.”
Thousands camped on various pop-up sites and the rain cleared by Saturday lunchtime and barring an overnight shower didn’t return until after the riders had disappeared leaving Holme Moss behind them. Camper Greg Turner, 61, of Horton, Staffs, said: “Yorkshire won’t be able to move next year for tourists. People will look at the pictures
on TV - and see the brilliant weather - and want to come on their holidays.
“It seems surreal to have the Tour de France in Yorkshire and no one would have believed it would happen.
“I loved it so much I am going to watch it all back on TV and savour every second. I’m even going to watch all the adverts I’ve enjoyed it
so much! It’s been brilliant.”
The peleton was past in a flash of colour but everyone agreed it wasn’t the race, it was the experience that mattered.
The sunshine, the food, the drink, the atmosphere - and the craic.
Everyone entered into the spirit and the spectacle.
They cheered McCain oven chips, Skoda, Fruit Shoot, the Yorkshire Building Society and the rest.
Though one wag, not impressed that there were no free chips forthcoming, remarked to his missus: “Right, that’s no more McCain’s
for us, love!”
It was a French fancy with a distinctly Yorkshire flavour and afterwards everyone was more than satisfied.
“Yes, it was over quick but it was the whole day that counted,” said Nigel Williams, 51, who drove up from Leicester.
“I managed to get a picture of the yellow jersey rider so I’m well pleased.”
Dewsbury-born Mark Wood, 40, made a pilgrimage from Bournemouth. He camped at Thongsbridge and also went to watch the start in Leeds.
“It was amazing,” he said. “Yorkshire has done a great job.”
Steve Currid, 49, and girlfriend Andrea Stocks, 47, cycled to Holme from Mirfield.
“I am a bit speechless,” said Steve afterwards. “The sense of anticipation, seeing the riders from afar then coming so close to the
peleton. It was incredible.”
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