INTERNATIONAL cyclists returned to the cobbled streets of Haworth as the sun beat down on the historic village.

A torrential morning downpour had threatened to wash out the Tour de Yorkshire’s visit to Brontëland but the flags were dry by the time the riders arrived.

Only minutes after the last rider had left Haworth, heading down into the valley at Mytholmes on their way to Oakworth, ominous rain clouds appeared overhead.

In an echo of last year’s hearty welcome for the Tour de France riders, hundreds of people lined Bridgehouse Lane and Main Street in Haworth.

There had been a smaller crowd on Haworth Brow to welcome the riders as they thundered along flat Hebden Road from Oxenhope.

At the corner of Brow, new resident Doris Marwood was getting to know her neighbours and providing chairs and cups of coffee to fellow spectators.

Doris used to live in Leeds, where last year she was a volunteer for the Tour de France at Roundhay Park.

She said: "This year I wanted to watch the race in Haworth rather than be a volunteer."

Also at Brow was Cullingworth man Paul Corcoran, who runs Pennine Cycles at Fairweather Green, with his wife Sandra and holding a yellow cycle.

He said: “I’ve ridden quite a lot of the Tour de Yorkshire route and I went out this morning for a ride.

“I would describe the Tour de Yorkshire as a tougher route than last year. Then it was the first days of the Tour de France, they didn’t want to hammer any of the riders into the ground.

“On these hills they’ll go faster downwards than you could ever imagine, and they’ll go up the hills faster than we could ever do.”

As the first police motorcyclists arrived in Haworth ahead of the cyclists, a Keighley and Worth Valley Railway train steamed along the valley bottom towards Oxenhope.

After the gruelling climb up Bridgehouse Lane the riders entered Main Street in dribs and drabs, the lead pack followed by a convoy of support vehicles.

Each subsequent ride was greeted with a cheer, the biggest noise being reserved for the final pair as they hit the cobbles just ahead of the last police vehicles and ambulance.

Among the hundreds of people gathered at the corner of Bridgehouse Lane and Main Street was Haworth sculptor Craig Dyson.

Craig was heavily involved in organising Haworth's massive celebrations for the Tour de France last year, creating a giant globe from thousands of two pence coins as a permanent reminder.

This year he stood watching the race with friends near Main Street, clutching a pint as the riders rode up Bridgehouse.

He was delighted with the “fantastic” turnout for the first Tour de Yorkshire.

He said: “It was slightly more low-key than the big event last year but it seemed like a lot of people came out.

"We are one of the key points of the route. I don't think Tour de Yorkshire organisers could have missed Haworth.

"We have the moors in the background - the view just defines Yorkshire."

Craig hoped the Tour de Yorkshire would become a success, and that Haworth would be part of the route every two or three years.

At the entrance to Haworth’s Central Park, standing in the same spot as last year, was Cross Roads man Darren Milner.

He felt that in some ways the Tour de Yorkshire was more satisfying than the Tour de France.

He said: "We got closer this time, and it wasn't over in a flash like the Tour de France.

"I was really impressed. I wasn't expecting this number of teams - Dutch, Germans, French. The riders were more spaced out than last year."