DAY One of the Tour de Yorkshire proved to be a memorable event, with spectacular scenery, exciting climbs and a horrifying pile-up of cyclists just yards from the finish line.

The first stage of the men’s race started in Bridlington, with riders crossing through East Yorkshire and North Yorkshire before finishing 107 miles later on Scarborough seafront, where only 15 riders managed to avoid the pile-up.

Welcome to Yorkshire staged the event with the organisers of the Tour de France, Amaury Sports Organisation.

Last year’s race attracted an estimated two million spectators and was watched by 11.4m TV viewers in 178 countries.

This year’s event has proved even bigger, with three more teams entering than last year and a large pre-race caravan.

The race left Bridlington at 11.45am before making its way through Driffield and Pocklington, meeting its first climb at Garrowby.

In North Yorkshire, pupils from Norton Primary School and Norton College were among those lining the route along Langton Road.

Norton College headteacher Phil Loftus said: “There has been a lovely community atmosphere and it has been really nice to get out and chat to people as well as watch the race. It has been a real team effort.”

Eight-year-old William Mills, a pupil at Norton Primary School said: “I have never seen anything like this in my life – it has been amazing.”

At the Derwent Arms in Norton, the White Rose jazz band provided the musical entertainment as people watched the race whizz by. The bells at St Peter’s Church were rung for 20 minutes in the race's honour and the church also held a pop-up café to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society, the charity supported by this year’s Tour.

In Malton, free doughnuts were handed out by Morrisons supermarket and a barbecue was set up outside the New Globe pub, to raise money for the charity Changing Lives in Cambodia.

To the north of Malton, in the village of Kirby Misperton, anti-fracking protestors lined the route, chanting and holding up banners. Two police liaison officers were on site but the protests remained non-disruptive.

The ‘Kirby Misperton Protection Camp’ was established in December. Activists protesting against fracking near the village have been living on site since then.

The race then headed out into the dramatic, sweeping vistas of the North York Moors. The route took the cameras and cyclists past the stunning panoramic views of the Hole of Horcum, before the sharp descent of Saltersgate bank.

Stationed at the national park authority stand in the car park overlooking the Hole of Horcum, were volunteer rangers Paul Grantham and David Bream.

Paul said: “The race has certainly raised the profile of this place.

“We’re quite keen to encourage more cyclists and mountain bikers to this area.”

Yorkshire flags and yellow and blue bicycles adorned the route, with many enthusiastic spectators dressing up and decorating their gardens.

Others turned out to entertain the waiting crowds, including a cyclist dressed as Shaun the Sheep who cycled exhaustingly up and down the Cote de Goathland prior to the peloton's arrival.

High up on the North York Moors, many had gathered at the top of the climb out of the picturesque village to watch the riders tackle the Cote de Goathland.

The stillness of the moors – where the only sound had been curlews and large Yorkshire flags fluttering in the breeze for much of the day – was suddenly punctuated by the sounds of police sirens from the outriders and the Tour de Yorkshire caravan, which included a Yorkshire pudding van with a large pudding attached.

A few minutes later a cavalcade of police cars and motorbikes, cycle support vehicles and the cyclists themselves arrived, to cheers and cowbells which could be heard above the helicopter high above which was filming the event.

One family who were situated at the top of the climb were three generations of the Gregory family, who had bought their newest arrivals, five-month-old twins Monty and Charlie Wood in their pushchair.

Their grandfather, Lloyd Gregory said although the race was due to go past their hometown of Pateley Bridge later during the tour, they had wanted to see a climb.

“We thought we would come out this way to see a climb and probably go and see one of the climbs on Sunday as well,” he said.

“We have my little grandsons here and they love all the flags and colours.”

Other spectators on the route included keen Northallerton cyclists Lynne Wilbor and husband Ray, who watched the race from a camping chair, dressed in a French beret and fake moustache.

The couple have watched the race every year.

“It’s been great for Yorkshire,” said Mrs Wilbor.

“We have noticed there’s more and more cyclists about on the roads.

“Events like this really highlight the county.”

The race then headed closer to the coast, past Robin Hood’s Bay and Whitby.

As the cyclists reached their final sprint at Scarborough disaster struck, as riders became entangled in a multi-rider pile-up, just yards from the finish line.

The dramatic fall left many with cuts and bruises. Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen won the stage, racing clear of the dramatic accident.

Just 15 riders managed to avoid the chaos and finish the race – but luckily all managed to walk away from the crash.

Stage Two tomorrow (Saturday, April 29) will see both men and women tackle the same 122.5km route in their respective races, starting in Tadcaster then Knaresborough followed by the Cote de Lofthouse, passing through Ripon and finishing on Harrogate's Parliament Street. Sunday's final 194.5km men's stage is between Bradford and Fox Valley, Sheffield, via Skipton and Haworth.