Kirkby Lonsdale welcomes the Tour of Britain (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Kirkby Lonsdale welcomes the Tour of Britain

3:30pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in Sport By Emma Lidiard

LINES of excited people camped out on grass verges and along pavements to welcome the cyclists into Kirkby Lonsdale. The queues stretched from the town centre all along Devil Bridge and out of Kirkby.

Flags were waved by young and old on-lookers. People were dressed in biking attire as well as their waterproofs There was heavy rain when the bike crew arrived into the town 25 minutes behind schedule.

Arnold Sharples, 64, had travelled down from Ulverston to see the event. He has been to the event for many years and has witnessed firsthand the surge in interest in the sport.

"There never use to be this many people coming," said Mr Sharples. "It's a memorable thing to come and see. I like cycling but I don't go out and do it nowadays."

Elizabeth Wright, 60, of Ulverston said she was looking forward to seeing Mark Cavendish.

"My partner got me into cycling," said Mrs Wright.