TOP class cyclists took in the sights of Prestwich and Whitefield as they peddled their way through the first leg of the Tour of Britain on Wednesday (Sept 1).

The race began at 10.30am from Sportcity in Manchester, and the 120-mile leg saw riders race their way through the borough into Bury. Competitors then headed into Ramsbottom, with a gruelling climb out of the borough along the Rake to Helmshore Road.

On the return leg, cyclists entered Bury around 3pm, and the pack then wheeled into Besses, along Bury Old Road, before finishing at the Urbis Museum in Manchester around 3.15pm.

A total of 16 teams were battling it out over five days, riding through individual stages across the country.

Among the competitors were British Olympic triple medal hero Bradley Wiggins and Australian Olympic gold medal winners Graeme Brown and Brett Lancaster. After the first round, Belgium's Stefano Zanini was in possession of the yellow jersey,

The Tour reaches its finale in Westminster, London on Sunday (Sept 5).