CYCLING fans tore themselves away from the Tour de France coverage for an evening of live racing in Beverley.
World-famous riders such as 2012 Olympic gold medallist Ed Clancy sped across the town's famous cobbles, cheered on by a crowd of thousands.
Boosted by British riders' Olympic and Tour success, the sport has never been more popular.
The East Yorkshire Classic, organised by Hull Thursday Road Club, East Yorkshire Council and Beverley Town Council now attracts more spectators than ever.
Its highlight is the Elite Circuit Race, the Beverley leg of a national competition.
Among the thousands lining the barriers in Toll Gavel were Terry and Maureen Thompson from Bracken Road, Driffield.
Mrs Thompson, 79, said: "We come every year. It's brilliant. It only worries me when it's wet on the cobbles but today is fine."
Her husband, 80 years old but still a regular cyclist, said: "I used to be a Hull and East Riding racer.
"Cycling's certainly on the up, just like it was in the 1950s."
Visiting from Scarborough, Thomas Hunstan, 50, said: "I've not been to this race before but we love coming to Beverley.
"At least coming on an evening like this, the shops aren't open so we can't spend too much money.
"I used to do a bit of cycling and this elite race is certainly spectacular."
Racers hared round the closed 1.25km circuit.
The main race of 70 minutes plus five laps was preceded by the 40-minute Keith Jordan Memorial Circuit Race.
Those braving the tight bends and unsettling cobbles in the main event included Nathan Wilson and Dave Shackleton, of Wilsons Wheels Race Team.
The two friends run a Beverley cycle shop.
The course, with its mixture of cobbles, paving and tarmac around the historic centre, is recognised as one of the best in the country.
Race director Martin Cockerill says: "It's more of a continental circuit race than a lot of the others in the UK.
"We have been oversubscribed this year because riders love coming here, they reckon it's one of the best circuits in the country."
The elite race was won by Welshman Jonathan Mould with Clancy in fourth.
After last night's professional sprint event, today sees a series of sporting leisure rides around the Yorkshire Wolds for 700 riders.
Hull Thursday Road Club has organised four cyclo-sportives covering distances of 30km, 60km, 100km and 160km.
With cycling more popular than ever, the weekend brings an estimated £500,000 to the town economy.
Hotels, B&Bs, restaurants, pubs, cafés and shops were looking forward to a busy weekend.
Certainly, on Friday night the cycling fans were combining sport with fish and chips. Every town centre chip shop had people queuing out of the door.
