THE big event Somerset had been waiting for took a dramatic turn in 2011 when cyclists in the Tour of Britain crashed in Taunton town centre as they sprinted for the line.

The race started smoothly in Yeovilton with Britain’s Mark Cavendish donning the yellow jersey from his lead in Stage One of the event from Reading to Southampton.

After battling it out over 105 miles in sprint sections of the race and the gruelling King of the Mountains Challenge, which included the lungburning Porlock Hill leg, over Exmoor and the Quantocks Hills, the riders returned to Taunton to finish Stage Two.

But Cavendish lost his lead and right opposite Debenhams in the final 100 metres of the race a dramatic crash shook the large crowd.

Russia’s Nikolai Trusov was part of a 36-man break which made a decisive move after two thirds of the gruelling 105-mile stage.

He kept pace with the leaders and hit the front after avoiding the four-man pile-up close to the finish to take the yellow jersey from Cavendish.

Somerset County Gazette: Tour of Britain comes through Taunton 2011.

Taunton’s North Street was lined with crowds and stalls for the dramatic finale at 2.30pm on the Tuesday in September 2011.

A number of cyclists were injured in the crash, but they all crossed the finishing line.

No spectators were hurt.

Kirsten Bull, 22, of Winchester Street, caught the crash on her camera and said: “When they came round the corner they obviously went too fast, they collided and sparks went everywhere.

“The barrier came down over people and everyone was trying to move out of the way – my heart was racing.”

Kirsten said she could smell burning rubber.

At the presentation Trusov received the yellow jersey and a green jersey for being the most consistent performer throughout the race.

In second place was Luke Roberts and third was Romain Feillu.

Winning the E.ON King of the Mountains competition was Serge Pauwels, while Piet Rooijackkers won the sprints competition.