The prestigious Tour of Britain cycle race left locals amazed by the 'brilliant' atmosphere as it returned to Nottinghamshire for the first time in four years. Nottinghamshire crowds saw the action unfold as the fifth stage of the race started at 10.45am on September 8 at Central Avenue in West Bridgford.
The tour started on September 4 in Scotland and lasts until September 11, when it will finish in the Isle of Wight. It was the third time the race visited the county, with Nottinghamshire having also played a central role in 2017 and 2018.
Glyn Lawson, 45, and Faye Machin-Smith, 36, both from West Bridgford, enjoyed the pre-race festivities with their sons Jay Machin-Smith, 8, and James Lawson, 8. Glyn said: "We saw the race the last time it was on in York. The school bike class organised it for the kids to come here. They're really enjoying it and we are, too."
Read more: Tour of Britain 2022 Nottinghamshire route start times and how you can watch
Faye added: "We got here very early and had a look at all the bikes. I'm having a good time. We're going to watch the start and then try follow it a bit."
Richard Cragg, 74, who runs a transport company and has travelled from Somerset, said: "I go to the races in York and in France, my cousin puts me up in Radcliffe-on-Trent when I come up from where I live in Somerset. I will watch the start then follow along.
"It's a great sport but as you can see here it's also an event and it brings out the crowds. Nottingham is a brilliant sporting city with the football and cricket, this adds to it."
Lynne Kirkham, 70, from Plungar, added: "It's excellent, the atmosphere here is brilliant. I've never come before this is my first time, but I've really enjoyed it. I think I'll follow along the race now - if they could find a comfy bike seat I would probably want to ride one."
The 191km route was different to previous years, with the cyclists traversing through Cotgrave, Gedling, Southwell, Retford and Worksop, before finally reaching Mansfield via Clumber Park and Sherwood Forest. This is the longest route across the eight days of competition, with three sprints and two climbs on the agenda.
Crowds gathered in Mansfield for most of the day waiting for the riders to reach the finish line, with the peloton reaching Chesterfield Road South at around 3.15pm. Adam Hill, CEO of Mansfield District Council, believes the economic benefit to the town from the event will be at least £500,000.
He said: "Just through this event today we'll see that kind of uplift in terms of the support from businesses and the TV coverage putting Mansfield on the map. You can then multiply that by the social value that will come from that, so you could be into millions on the back of an event such as this.
"For all the three years, businesses have got behind it, they see the benefits that it brings because it brings more people into the town centre. We have new hotels that have set up only in the last few years and part of that is the attraction that Mansfield offers for businesses."
Despite ominous dark clouds gathering over Mansfield, the rain held off until the very end of the awards presentation after the race. Among those enjoying pre-race activities ranging from juggling to a brass band were Mick Brudenell, 74, and Sharon Brudenell, 66, from Mansfield.
They had come with their grandchildren Ollie, 8, and Amelia Brudenell, 9, both of whom were among hundreds of pupils in Mansfield who were able to leave school early to watch the race. Mick Brudenell said: "It's very good for Mansfield to get a bit of attention and it's nice that some of the young ones have been able to get out of school early for it.
"We obviously get road closures and so on when the event is on but it's definitely worth it for what it brings. We came out onto the street when it came through Mansfield before but we didn't come to the activities area and I think they've done a really good job."
Also attending from Mansfield were Sue and Jeff Walters, 66 and 71, from the Berry Hill area. They said: "It's great for the town and it can put areas like it on the map because the TV commentators have been doing a very good job of discussing the villages and towns where the race passes through.
"We did used to have the big carnival on Berry Hill Park in the 80s but that all died down and something like this helps to bring that sense of atmosphere back. It seems like this is the biggest Tour of Britain yet in Mansfield in terms of everything they've put on for people to do."
As well as people from the local area, many had travelled from further afield to see the race. Among them was Tracy Poole, 50, who had come with her daughter Cara, 21, to watch her son Max who was competing in the race.
Max Poole rides with the Dutch cycling team DSM, and Tracy and Cara had come from their home in North Lincolnshire to watch him. Tracy said: "We didn't do the start at Aberdeen but we've been in Durham and North Yorkshire and then we're on to Tewkesbury. Max has been racing since he was about seven or eight years old and he's been all over the world.
"We try and catch him on the tour bus before the start of the race because after he's finished, he's not really up for much conversation. He seems to be doing really well and he's hoping to be on the world tour next year."
Another spectator who had travelled from further afield was 57-year-old Roger Reed, who came with his dog Ralph from their home in Kettering. He said: "I went to Keyworth first to catch that part of the stage and then we've travelled here. It seems like Mansfield has done a really good job in putting all of this on and we actually hosted the women's tour in Kettering in 2014 so I know that it can have a really good impact on a place when something like this happens."
Belgian rider Jordi Meeus was declared the stage winner during an awards ceremony in Mansfield in what marks the biggest victory of his career. Gonzalo Serrano remains the overall leader as the Tour of Britain gets ready for stage six from Tewkesbury to Gloucester.
Mansfield District Council CEO Adam Hill added: "What this really does show is that Mansfield is a major event organiser and promoter. If people do want to do it, get in touch, we will be out there looking for other big events that we can bring to Mansfield. We can not only stage an event, but we can make it high profile."
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