A CARNIVAL atmosphere extended through the whole of south Worcestershire on Saturday as crowds came out in their thousands to watch the Women’s Tour.

Our photographs show the party atmosphere as people saw the race set of from Evesham and watched its climax 180km later in Worcester.

With the race setting off from Evesham, enthusiasts were able to see the cyclists close up with young fans taking advantage of the calm before the racing storm to grab an autograph or a selfie with one of the riders.

As the peloton approached Worcester, thousands of people gathered on the side of the streets of the route to the finish line in Hylton Road.

Amateur cyclists came to the city from miles around to watch the action, while families lined the final sprint.

Especially prominent were the number of young girls with their parents enthused by the top-class sport in their home city.

The main sponsors of the tour, OVO Energy, did a roaring trade in handing out cycling caps and flags in their corporate green, and the giant foam hands given away by sports drink company High5 were also popular.

Banging on the board s and the barriers, and clapping and cheering, the crowds gave the riders a thunderous welcome as they flashed by in a blur of colour and whirring wheels to the line, with Danish rider Amalie Dideriksen utterly thrilled to take the win on the line.