Crowds are lining the streets as the Tour of Britain enters Eden.
At Pooley Bridge, the village’s new bridge provided the focal point for spectators with many cramming onto the tight pavement with cameras ready.
Police bikes sounded sirens as they crossed the bridge from 11.50am and were met by whoops and cheers from onlookers.
The first riders came through at around 12.09pm traversing the narrow river crossing and the two tight corners at either end, with ease.
A huge cheer erupted which continued until all the cyclists had finished their crossing, leaving a frenetic energy throughout the village.
At 12.13pm, the main peloton crossed the bridge.
Cycling enthusiasts Alison and Paul Gabriel arrived at 10.30am. They came up from Lancashire to see the action.
“We’re ever so excited to see Mark Cavendish,” said Alison. “He’s our favourite although I’m not sure if we’ll be able to pick him out.”
Darren Todd, owner of the Chestnut House shop in Pooley Bridge, said: “We’ve definitely seen an uptick in people in the village. We’ve sold a lot of coffee and cake all morning.
“It’s just nice to have events like this come to the area.”
He added that he was concerned about the traffic chaos that will ensue with it being change over day for holiday cottages combined with the usual congestion surrounding Kemplay Bank roundabout.
One visitor from Preston staying at Parkfoot caravan site said seeing the peloton pass was on her bucket list and had brought camping chairs to watch from.
Crowds were also cheering in Penrith as the first Tour of Britain cyclists passed through the town to the sprint stage finish close to the Musgrave monument.
Sue Grundy, 52, took up cycling about 15 years ago.
She said it was brilliant to see the Tour of Britain cyclists come through the town. Waving a Union Flag and gear she had got when cycling in Tenerife,
Sue said: “I love it. I love my cycling and it was brilliant to be there at the sprint finish.”
Also watching the peleton go by was the mascot of Atkinson’s Building Contractors.
He was at the firm’s Mulberry Gardens development on Beacon Edge, and gave the cyclists a wave.
Mr and Mrs Jenkinson of Newton Rigg are keen cyclists and have followed the tour for a few years.
They were looking out for Mark Cavendish but couldn’t see him. Last year they were watching from Greystoke and spotted a tall Bradley Wiggins as the road narrowed to single file.
