ELITE British cyclists have been in the North-East for a weekend of cycling at Derwent Reservoir.

The annual Northumbrian Water Tour of the Reservoir road race, now in its eighth year, has expanded from a single day race to a two day, two stage ‘tour’ event.

It has attracted 130 of the country’s best cyclists, including 2013 World Track Cycling champion Simon Yates.

Stage one of the race on Saturday was a 75 mile uphill circuit starting in Blanchland village, over the County Durham border in Northumberland.

Racers completed five laps of the tough roads around Blanchland and Edmundbyers to compete for selection for day two of the event.

Riders who qualified to race in day two today (Sunday April 28) battled it out over eight laps,104 miles, of the original race route, circling Derwent Reservoir.

Mike Hodgson, event organiser from Tyne Valley Cycle club, said: “The event is billed locally as a mini Tour de France and always attracts the best cyclists in Britain.”