Wiggins and Cavendish head peloton as breakaway six made for Shap (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Wiggins and Cavendish head peloton as breakaway six made for Shap

3:00pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in Sport By Daniel Orr, Reporter

CROWDS of people gathered in Shap to cheer on Olympic hero Bradley Wiggins and a host of other top cyclists.

As the Tour Of Britain passed through the town, people of all ages lined the streets to witness the spectacle.

Race leader Lee Howard and the leading pack of five others, were six minutes and 40 seconds ahead of the peloton, which was headed up by Team Sky, including Wiggins and Mark Cavendish.

Keen cyclist Sarah Bruce, of Shap, was among the hundreds who were there.

She said: “I have come out here to support Team Sky and British cycling. I just wanted to see this as it was in my home town.

“I have friends who have cycled up to Shap Fell to watch them go past.”

Pupils at Shap Primary School waved flags and cheered as the cyclists raced through before them.

Lois Whittaker, headteacher, said: “The children have loved every minute of it. It is kind of nice as a follow up to the Olympic torch.

“The five to seven years olds have enjoyed a bike day, doing sprints and obstacle courses, while the older children are being journalists, putting together a newspaper about the event.”