The riders are heading up the A65 out of Addingham and on to Skipton, which is known as the Gateway to the Dales, where they will swing right by the Castle and head up into the Yorkshire Dales proper where the real fun will begin.

Matt, Northern Rail, via text: Keep in mind those working long extra hours for all the fans travelling. Great atmosphere!

David Illingworth, via text: There's a strong Norwegian continent in Skipton. Competing chants of "Norway" vs "Yorkshire"...

Our stage leaders Voigt, Berrier and Edet are continuing on their merry way through Addingham. The last time I went to Addingham it was a small village with a not very big population. It appears to have quadrupled in size today. That may have something to do with the fact the race will be heading through again on Sunday.

Image source, Nigel MacDiarmid

Nigel MacDermid:, external Cute yellow bike outside the Radcliffe Arms, Follifoot (just outside Harrogate).

Quick update from Mrs Scrivener - trains from Leeds to Harrogate only running every 30 minutes. If you have been at the Grand Depart, looking to get to the finish in Harrogate, you may struggle.

Alastair Campbell:, external Yorkshire is looking absolutely fantastic. These riders are going to be blown away by today.

Brilliant. Ho Chi Minh City. Hi Len. Chapeau. The leaders are pedalling through the spa town of Ilkley. There is barely a piece of roadside pavement that isn't occupied by a person. And the peloton follows them through about three minutes back to huge cheers.

Len Davies:, external Following the text in Ho Chi Minh City. Come on Cav!

Guess that means I won't be getting any Tour memorabilia then. Next best thing is if you send me your pics. Has the Caravanne been past you yet? And what is the best souvenir you've managed to get your hands on? Texts to 81111 or tweets to #bbccycling.

Unfortunately, the riders will not be swinging left and heading up the hill to the famous Cow and Calf rocks on Ilkley Moor (baht 'at) but heading straight through town and on to Addingham. I've just had a tweet from my wife, who is at Leeds train station, trying to get to Harrogate. There's a three-hour queue for the train. Yikes.

Jenn Cornes, via text: In Ilkley, waiting for t'tour. Sun shining and brilliant atmosphere!

Ilkley is next up. Can you outdo neighbours Otley?

Image source, Henry Carden on Twitter

Henry Carden:, external Crowds are still building on Cote de Grinton Moor!

Jon Barker:, external Skipton full of fans as @TeamSky van goes past.

Image source, Jon Barker on Twitter

The peloton is reasonably strung out as it ambles through the west Yorkshire market town, home of Britain's Olympic road race silver medallist Lizzie Armitstead. Otley is of course, home to its own annual road race, which took place on Wednesday night.

Lynn Binner:, external Unfortunately not camped out along the route but reading your report from here in Turkey whilst listening to God Coe. That'll be BBC 6Music's Gideon Coe, who is broadcasting live from Leeds today.

The leading trio are a couple of minutes clear of the chasing peloton as they zip through Otley. The townsfolk are out in their hundreds, lining the streets, flags waving. Take that back, that's not hundreds, there are thousands. Wow.

Otley is the next big town on the horizon for the riders and they should be coming through in the next couple of minutes. And then it is on through Burley in Wharfedale to Ilkley at just before 12:30. The riders stay on the A65, through Addingham and up to Skipton by 12:49.

Robin Martin, via text: Otley is buzzing.. Allez le Yorkshire!

Nicola Edet of Cofidis and fellow Frenchman Benoit Jarrier have gone with Voigt, who rides for Trek.

The other 195 riders in the race are happy to let them go. The trio out front will push on and be allowed to build up a lead of several minutes, giving valuable exposure to the sponsors of their teams. Then, in the final 50km or so, the teams of the sprint specialists will start working together to bring the breakaway back.

The aim will be to do so within the final 5km, which will enable them to set up their sprinter for the race win.

Of course, that might not happen but it usually does, as Jens explained to us last year.