The tenth edition of the modern Tour of Britain got underway in gritty fashion yesterday with a rain-lashed opening stage. 

Wet weather and heavy skies failed to deter thousands of people from lining the 201km from Peebles to Drumlanrig Castle to cheer on some of the biggest names in cycling.

Sir Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky), Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), and Nairo Quintana (Movistar) were among the stars who shone through the gloom of an autumnal day in Scotland.

Photographer, Paul Hayes-Watkins, embedded with Britain’s IG-Sigma Sport UCI Continental squad, was on hand to capture these superb images, which we bring you with his kind permission.