STAND-FIRST: 'Le Tour' coming to Middlesbrough reminded the world that 'the Boro' remains part of the traditional 'Yorkshire Nation.' Chris Webber was there to witness the pride and passion in the morning rain.

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Fans ignore the weather to give the riders a true Yorkshire reception

ONLY Yorkshire has managed to continue the momentum generated by the Tour de France's enthusiastic excursion to our shores in 2014.

From the huge success of le Grand Depart Yorkshire - which showcased the county to a global audience - was born le Tour de Yorkshire, now in its second year.

The race has passed through some of this isle's most stunning scenery as well as such post industrial landscapes as Pontefract and Doncaster,

The Third Stage began in what may fairly be called Yorkshire's 'lost town' of Middlesbrough - reminding the world that south of the River Tees is within the old county's ceremonial boundaries, whatever council maps say.

This morning (Sunday, May 1) the town repaid the organisers' belief in it and did them proud. Thousands of typically hardy Boro folk ignored the cold and rain to cheer the cyclists on.

Many waved Yorkshire flags. There wasn't a British or English flag to be seen. This was Yorkshire's day.

Middlesbrough, which has strong connections with the rest of Teesside and the wider North-East, has not officially been designated as Yorkshire since 1968 when its council became part of the long defunct County Borough of Teesside.

Clearly official designations count for nowt, at least among some in the town.

Not that anyone was, in truth, making a point about geographical identity. This was simple family fun. Here, two men with enormous moustaches and exaggerated Yorkshire accents with a hurdy gurdy bring a little musical cheer and a few laughs. There, two men dressed as classic Yorkshire tea ladies pose for photos. Soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment put keen children to the test on its cycling machine. Some of those children got cheers as big as the professional cyclists.

Laughs and cheers in the cold and rain.

Hardy folk, for sure, but there was little doubt the wet kept many away. With just 40 minutes to go there was just a few hundred people milling around Centre Square and Albert Road. The organisers could have been forgiven for worrying but in fact McDonald's, the Mima cafe and other enterprising eateries were packed.

Inside the warm cafes there was some excited chatter in the queues for warm drinks and hot sandwiches that perhaps Olympic cycling champion Sir Bradly Wiggins, who had dropped out on Stage One, was actually here.

Infact it was simply his cycling team who had pedalled into town. Still there were other major cycling stars to cheer as well as Middlesbrough FC's own George Friend who mingled with other cycling fans.

As, le gran - or should that be the grand - depart approached the cafes emptied and those sheltering under the cover of the shopping centre emerged into the street.

Within ten or 15 minutes the few hundred slightly damp wandering souls were joined by thousands more. At last, a real crowd. The laid back atmosphere became more intense as the little, plastic Yorkshire flags were distributed.

Applause rang out as Middlesbrough's Citizen of the Year, Ron Barber, cut the starting ribbon. "If I look like that at 96, I'd be a happy man," exclaimed the announcer who explained that the Second World War veteran, the area's oldest military standard bearer, had worked tirelessly for servicemen and women for many decades. The applause rang out a little louder.

Then came the countdown and mounting excitement. Ten minutes, five minutes, one minute and the mass chant; 'ten, nine, eight...' And they were off. The cheers were like a football crowd as the super-fit lycra men sped away.

The speed and athleticism were impressive and they weren't even racing yet but simply touring the town centre for a few minutes before the official race start.

That didn't stop the crowd start to slowly wander off. Expressing the thought that the numbers could have been higher, one cycling fan laughs. "I've been to the big Spring cycling events right across France," he says, "and, believe me, this is about right, probably even bigger than their crowds. They (the organisers) will be well pleased with the numbers and who is here. It's not a rowdy football crowd they want. It's family, social."

I look around and see the people here. Lots of children and parents, a few very fit-looking sporty types and a good few Middlesbrough people who've simply come down to celebrate a proud day for their town.

And we've only seen a fraction of the Teesside crowd in the town centre. Photographs start come through from Stewart's Park at Marton, the birthplace of Yorkshire's greatest hero, Captain Cook. There's hundreds more. It's the same at Nunthorpe and down the road at Stokesley.

Teesside has done Yorkshire proud.