Ride London-Essex: Starting gun fires on elite race

Friday's first stage took the elite riders through the Essex countryside, including Sible Hedingham, Mount Bures and Manningtree

Crowds have cheered on the first stage of the Ride London-Essex festivities.

A total of 109 elite women riders, across 19 teams, set off from Market Street in Saffron Walden to signal the start of the three-day RideLondon Classique race.

Friday's ride took the teams on a 146.4km-route (91 miles) through scenic Radwinter, Finchingfield and Dedham, before finishing in Colchester.

The race is part of the UCI Women's World Tour.

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Dutch rider Charlotte Kool won the first stage for Team DSM.

Chloé Dygert however, of the US, snatched victory in the second stage for team WMNcycling on Saturday.

The second day's route started and finished in Maldon, taking riders to the Dedham Vale, to Little Baddow near Chelmsford, and circling round Abberton Reservoir.

The final stage takes place in the City of London and Westminster on Sunday.

Thousands of amateur riders will hit the road in a separate mass participation event on Sunday, starting and finishing in London, but once again taking riders through the Essex countryside.

Friday's stage took in Audley End House, in Essex, and its stone bridge

Dutch rider Charlotte Kool won the first stage on Friday

(l-r) Lizzie Deignan, Charlotte Kool and Clara Copponi at the podium in Colchester

The RideLondon Classique began in Saffron Walden

Ann Thomson, from Cambridge, said it was "absolutely wonderful" to see the cyclists off from Saffron Walden

Scott Sunderland was race director for the RideLondon Classique elite event