THOUSANDS of people lined the roads as West Somerset hosted the first of two South West stages of Britain's premier cycling race this week.

And organisers of the prestigious Tour of Britain, which started the fourth day of the eight-day race in Minehead on Tuesday, said it lived up to its billing as one of the toughest routes in the event.

The Minehead to Teignmouth section was always expected to be a critical point in the tour and it did not disappoint, testing the world class cyclists and thrilling the biggest crowds of the event to date.

Starting from the West Somerset Railway station, the route took the cyclists through Wheddon Cross, Roadwater, Bilbrook, Blue Anchor, Watchet, Huish Champflower and Wiveliscombe.

Onlookers were treated to some gritty riding with Ireland's Dan Martin, riding for Garmin-Transitions, the most aggressive rider of the day.

He broke away from the main field of cyclists to take the King of the Mountains climb at Raleigh's Cross.

But despite heading out on his own to assume a commanding lead as the race crossed over the Devon border, he was swept up by the first chasing group with one kilometre to go.

After a gruelling 107 miles it was Wout Poels of Vacansolieil who took the stage winner's title in Teignmouth.

However, Michael Albasini of HTC Columbia held on to the Yellow Jersey and also took the lead in the Points Jersey competition.

The South West stages, hosted by Somerset and Devon County Councils, continued on Wednesday with 109 miles of racing from Tavistock, across Dartmoor and back into Somerset, finishing in Glastonbury.

Somerset County Council cabinet member for economic development Cllr David Hall said the first stage had gone really well.

"The Tour of Britain brings in thousands of spectators to the county," he said.

"It is a great opportunity to boost the local economy and promote Somerset as a great destination for cycling."