Tour de Yorkshire 2017: Race update

Riders are still intent on bringing the peloton up to that leading group, no one's really getting away

Andy Comfort
BBC Radio Humberside

The Tour de Yorkshire lead car has reached Driffield, which means the riders will be there soon.

Here's the view which will greet them - sort of like the Hollywood sign, but Yorkshire-style:

Tour de Yorkshire 2017: Race update

JLT condor have two riders in the breakaway group, which now has eight riders

Andy Marsters
BBC Local Live

The start of the Tour de Yorkshire at Bridlington Spa was just the ceremonial start, but what a start it was!

The riders left the start line then into the town centre, before heading out to Carnaby and then Driffield.

Here's how it sounded:

Tour de Yorkshire 2017: Race update

As the peloton relaxes, more are trying to make the break to the leading group

Yorkshire's Scott Thwaites is up for this!

The Team Dimension Data rider was born in Burley-in-Wharfedale in West Yorkshire and attended schools in both Ilkley and Skipton before becoming a professional cyclist in 2013. 

This is the first chance the 27-year-old has had to compete in Yorkshire, though:

Tour de Yorkshire 2017: Race update

And a small group of six have made an early break 

Tour de Yorkshire 2017: Race update

We're already almost at 6km in, as the riders approach Nafferton.

The 2017 race's first stage has got going outside Bridlington Spa and is now heading into Pocklington for the first intermediate sprint. 

There are classified climbs up the Cotes de Garrowby Hill and Goathland before it hits the coastline again at Whitby for the second sprint of the day.

The 173km route continues on to Robin Hood's Bay for the third and final climb and then into Scarborough for the finish along North Bay. Watch the full Stage One route here:

Tour de Yorkshire 2017: Race update

There's a big attack under way form the JLT Condor team now as the race starts to see pressure applied by the the leading teams.

Tour de Yorkshire 2017: Race update

And that speed means that we're not getting too much stringing out from the peloton 

Tour de Yorkshire 2017: Race update

And the riders aren't hanging about, we're at speeds of around 50kph already

Tour de Yorkshire 2017: Race update

No break away group yet but the lower level teams are provoking the action

Tour de Yorkshire 2017: Race update

And they're over the 0km line and we're off!

Tour de Yorkshire 2017: Race update

Just while we wait for them to get going for real, if you want to have a look at the teams, click here, external.

Joshua Cook
Reporter, BBC Radio Humberside

A short time ago, a group of keen cyclists passed through Driffield, one of the bigger towns on the route of Day One of the Tour de Yorkshire.

Do you think they'll be allowed in the race?

Joshua Cook
BBC Radio Humberside

Organising the Tour de Yorkshire takes a huge amount of effort and not everyone is paid.

The race relies on 'Tour Makers', volunteers who help out across the race route.

Here they are in Driffield waiting for the cyclists to come through this afternoon:

This year's Tour de Yorkshire will feature exciting races, thousands of supporters and amazing places.

But the race is also getting a real reputation for the amazing land art scattered around the route.

Take a look below at some of the pieces you'll see this year:

Mike Kemp
Reporter, BBC Radio York

The race is due into Pickering shortly after 15:00 and it looks like they are ready.

Here's one of the roundabouts the riders can expect to see in the town:

Andy Marsters
BBC Local Live

The Tour de Yorkshire 2017 is underway in Bridlington!

The riders have gone through the start line and will now race on to Carnaby.