Last Sunday I drove this next section of the route, from Harrogate, up past the Menwith Hill 'golf balls' and over Cote du Blubberhouses. It's the first of today's nine climbs and is rated as a category four - that's the easiest. It's 1.8km long with an average gradient of 6.1%.

I've been hearing that Alberto Contador is the only one of the overall race favourites who has not been to recce today's route. He could be in for a bit of a shock, it's lumpy.

Lee and Megan, via text: In Sheffield just after Cote d'Oughtibridge. Already very busy with more turning up every minute. Great atmosphere. Should be a second great day in Yorkshire.

Harrogate, the scene of yesterday's dramatic stage one finale, has turned out in force again to watch the riders come through their spa town for a second time. Kittel is discussing the route with his Giant-Shimano team-mates. The riders get a little route card (see 10:58) at the start of each day so they know what's coming up.

Image source, JonathanPerkins/Twitter

Jonathan Perkin:, external The perfect Tour de France viewpoint.

A timely reminder from Gary Verity. Depending on which media you read, there was anywhere between one and two million fans on the roads on Saturday and judging by the pictures I'm seeing, there will be similar out there today.

Defending champion Chris Froome thanked fans for their "incredible" support on stage one, but asked for restraint.

Fellow Brit and BBC columnist Geraint Thomas said it was so noisy it was "like being in a disco for four hours".

If you're out on the course, stay safe folks.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, on Twitter:, external IMPORTANT MESSAGE if you are watching @letour at the roadside. Respect the riders safety. Don't run, stay off the road and control kids and dogs please.

The leading seven are whizzing through Knaresborough but their lead is not being allowed to increase beyond around two minutes, 30 seconds as race leader Marcel Kittel's Giant-Shimano team control the pace of the peloton. I don't have to tell you that there is barely an inch of pavement visible.

A quick update on the condition of Mark Cavendish, who has said he may need surgery and that would put his participation in Commonwealth Games in doubt.

The 29-year-old is scheduled to be riding for his native Isle of Man in the Games, which start in Glasgow on 23 July.

Image source, TimRaybould/Twitter

Tim Raybould:, external Outside the King of the Mountains house in Knaresborough.

Brief shots of the always-entertaining Europcar rider Tommy Voeckler. Could today be a stage for the Frenchman? He's a good climber and might thrive on the hills, particularly the brief dash up Jenkin Road 5km from the finish in Sheffield. He's not exerting too much energy at present, as he's currently clowning around at the back of the peloton with the polka dot wearing Jens Voigt.

Alex Ross-Shaw:, external In Haworth for Le Tour, polite applause for French caravan, raucous chants of 'Yorkshire! Yorkshire!' for Yorkshire Tea vans.

I've just glanced at my television screen and seen hundreds and hundreds of people on the roadside and thought we must have been arriving in Knaresborough a bit early. But no, we're in the tiny village of Green Hammerton. Extraordinary scenes.

Rebecca Taylor:, external Sign just after the Cote de Blubberhouses!

Image source, RebeccaTaylor/Twitter

Tim Oscroft, via text: Thousands already in the slopes up to Holme Moss, and a similar number pedalling up the route to huge acclaim for their stamina. They look like cattle in a mad way, only cattle on bikes.

I've missed Bart De Clercq. The Lotto-Belisol rider missed the initial break but jumped clear of the peloton and has ridden across the gap. Our leading sextet has become a septet.

The break is going to stick so here are our six leaders for the day: Perrig Quemeneur (Europcar), Matthew Busche (Trek), Cyril Lemoine (Cofidis), David de la Cruz (NetApp), Armindo Fonseca (Bretagne) and Blel Kadri (AG2R).

In a stage expected to end in a sprint finish, the peloton would allow the sextet to stay clear for most of the day before chasing them down with the idea of capturing them inside the final 10km.

Today is not going to be a sprint finish though, so it's anybody's guess what will happen. This six, who are already more than two minutes clear, could stay out and battle it out for the stage win. Or they could be caught on Holme Moss. Stick with me and we'll find out together.

The riders are on the A59, heading from York towards Harrogate. Knaresborough will be the first big town of the day and the peloton should be zipping through at around 11:50 BST. The route then takes the riders over Blubberhouses towards Bolton Abbey before swinging left to Addingham and on to Silsden, Keighley and so on.

If you are out on the route today, text or tweet me and tell me what you're doing to celebrate the Tour coming through and in return I'll keep you updated with where the riders are. Deal? Excellent. Texts to 81111 and tweets to #bbccycling.

Jan, London, via text: Great to see Jens Voight in the polka dot rolling out in front of peloton in his last TdF. What a top bloke! Hope he goes well today. Gutted for Cav. First class attitude though. Cracking stage ahead. Can't wait.

There is a Trek rider, sadly not Jens Voigt, and a Europcar, Cofidis, NetApp Endura rider among a couple of others in the break. I'll bring you the names as soon as I get them but the break is yet to fully establish itself as the peloton tries to work out who is up there and whether they should be allowed to go clear.

Image source, ConorMatchett/Twitter

Conor Matchett:, external These are the scenes in York just after the riders passed through. Incredible support!