THOUSANDS of spectators are expected the line the route of the Tour de France’s Grand Depart this weekend, but in years gone by the region has played a big part in the most prestigious cycling event in the British calendar.

The Milk Race, which took place between 1958 and 1992, was a multistage race conducted over a number of days and across a number of locations, including Darlington, Durham, Sunderland, Newcastle, Scarborough and York.

Some of our pictures include action from the roads of Darlington, Hetton-le-Hole, Yarm and Flyingdales with the race contested by some of the most successful road cyclists.

The race was sponsored by the Milk Marketing Board (MMB) and initially it was open to semi-professionals. However, as the years went by, the entry requirements changed with periods when the race was only open to amateurs before it was opened to both in 1985.

After 1993, the Milk Race ended when the MMB was scrapped, but in 2005 it returned, although now it is commonly known at the Tour of Britain.

The Milk Race was brought back in 2013 by The Dairy Council and the Milk Marketing Forum after a 20 year hiatus, but the event has now been reborn as a major city centre race and has been held in Nottingham for the last two years.

Anyone who attended The Milk Race of old will particularly remember the atmosphere that came with it – an enthralling, pulsating spectacle that people travelled from miles around to be part of.

After this weekend’s Tour de France meeting, the region may be in demand to host The Milk Race once again.