By Nora Parminter

CROWDS of people lined the route as The Tour of Britain cycle race passed through Crediton on Friday, September 9.

Many of the top cycling teams and riders rode through the town cheered on by thousands of supporters including a large number of students from local schools.

The cyclists were on route from Sidmouth on the East Devon coast to the summit of Haytor on Dartmoor during stage six of the tour and included top cyclists, Sir Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish and Steve Cummings.

Crediton played host to one of the three hotly-contested designated Yodel Sprints which began on Crediton High Street and finished outside Queen Elizabeth's School in Western Road.

Riders could pick up extra points on the special stages which accumulate towards different jerseys and financial bonuses within the overall race.

Motorists were warned prior to the race that rolling road closures would be in operation and parking was suspended in some areas including Crediton High Street from 9am to 2pm on the day.

The route took the cyclists from Sidmouth to Ottery St Mary, Honiton and Willand, then to Tiverton and along the A3072 from Bickleigh to Crediton. After the sprint on Crediton High Street the cyclists continued on to Copplestone, Bow, de Bathe Cross, Whiddon Down, Moretonhampstead, Haldon Forest, Chudleigh and to the summit finish at Haytor on Dartmoor.

British cyclist, Steve Cummings was the winner of the Tour of Britain after taking the overall lead in this year's race when he finished eighth on stage six, which passed through Crediton, a lead he held on to despite losing time on the penultimate day.

Australia's Rohan Dennis was second overall, 26 seconds behind, with Dutchman Tom Dumoulin third.

Cummings is only the second Briton, after Sir Bradley Wiggins (2013), to have won the race since it was rebranded in 2004.