Former sports minister Richard Caborn MP dropped the flag to set 92 riders on their way, led by Mike and Steven Tomlinson, husband and son of Jane Tomlinson who raised £1.5m for charity before losing her battle with cancer on 3rd September.

Mike and Steven rode a tandem bicycle for the first mile of the stage, which saw the cyclists take part in a sprint at Wickersley and a steep climb at Limestone Hill, Tickhill, before making their way through the region towards the finish at Bradford. The course also weaved its way through Maltby.

The 103-mile long stage was preceeded by a presentation to the winners of the previous day's stages, which included Anston rider Ben Swift who was Wednesday's King of the Mountain.

Local cycling fans gave Swift a resounding ovation as he took to the podium in the polka-dot jersey, given to the rider who leads over the hardest hill climbs on the tour route. Friends and family were out in force to lend their support to the 19-year-old at a venue which holds special significance in his career.

"This was where I had my first ever race when I was three and a half. It was just a mountain bike race but it's nice to be back and it's really special to race in front of everyone I know," he said.

Deputy mayor of Rotherham Ann Russell officially welcomed the riders to Rother Valley Country Park before the stage got underway, to the cheers of children from local schools and the spectators present.

Tour of Britain chief executive Hugh Roberts said: "We've tapped into a very strong under-swell of interest in cycling in Britain. We're overwhelmed by the growing interest in the tour, in particular at a regional level."

"This is one of the only sporting events that touches so many communities and joins them all up."
He added: "The crowds turning out for the tour have been massive, we've been lucky with good weather and it must be the spectacle that captures the imagination of so many people."