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Celebrating its fifth year, the Tour of Britain started in London on 7 September, with Stage Eight scheduled to finish in Liverpool on 14 September. Stage Four of the race, on Wednesday 10 September, saw 16 teams of 6 cyclists race through some of Shropshire's most beautiful scenery as they pedaled from Worcester to Stoke-on-Trent.

Ahead of the race, spokesman Paul Rowlands said there's more in Shropshire this year and the stretch promises to be exciting: "It has the potential to decide who wears the yellow jersey... big climbs... windy and exposed at times... a fantastic place to watch".

For the first time the cyclists faced a tough climb up Jiggers Bank with 'no respite' at the top as the route continued to the Saddle of the Wrekin before heading to Staffordshire.

Both sections were part of the King of the Mountains competition which rewards the rider who performs best across all the steepest climbs. That section was won by the British rider, Ben Swift. 

The Norweigian, Edvald Boasson Hagen, was the winner of Stage Four, but the overall leader is the Frenchman, Geoffrey Lequatre, who inherited the yellow jersey at the half-way stage with British rider, Steve Cummings, six seconds behind.

Scores of people lined the route to cheer the cyclists through Shropshire, including pupils from Castlefields Primary School in Bridgnorth. The Frenchman, Romain Seillu, was overall winner in 2007. He currently lies in 78th position, just behind Olympic gold medallist Bradley Wiggins.

Race route

The race entered Shropshire from the A454, Wolverhampton to Bridgnorth road, headed towards Telford along the B4176. The cyclists then dropped down into Coalport for a sprint along the Severn Valley before the climb up Jiggers Bank and on to Little Wenlock. 

The race then headed into Wellington along the Holyhead Road, across to Haybridge and Hadley, before joining the A518 which took the cyclists past Newport and out of Shropshire towards Eccleshall. 

For more information about The Tour of Britain, its competitors and the route, visit the Tour of Britain website.