Tour de France Opening Ceremony

Discovery Team at the launch

In anticipation of London's first Grand Depart of the Tour de France when hundreds of thousands of spectators are expected in the capital, an estimated 20,000 people gathered in Trafalgar Square for a spectacular opening ceremony.

The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, welcomed the Tour to the capital from the stage ahead of what promises to be a fantastic celebration of the race and cycling. The event, which was shown on giant screens in Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall, featured the presentation of the Tour de France’s 21 teams and 189 competitors. The world’s best riders cycled a parade route along Cockspur Street and Whitehall, giving fans an opportunity to get close to their sporting heroes.

The ceremony, presented by TV cycling commentator, Hugh Porter and ITV news presenter, Katie Derham, featured live entertainment, details of the weekend’s events and a guide to the Tour de France. The night finished with live music from R&B artist Lemar who performed a special arrangement of Queen’s “Bicycle Race” for the crowds.

The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said: “London has promised the most spectacular Grand Départ the Tour has ever seen and this evening's opening ceremony in Trafalgar Square has set the standard. The start of the racing tomorrow will provide a fun, free day out for thousands of spectators. The course is ready, the excitement is building and we are looking forward to a great weekend of world-class cycling."

Info (Go to www.letourguide.com)
The Prologue on Saturday 7 July will be an eight kilometre (five miles) lap of central London, starting on Whitehall, taking in some of London’s most famous landmarks including Whitehall, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, and finishing on the Mall.

Team Buses in Trafalgar Sq- 20,000 watch the show

Stage One, on Sunday 8 July, will start in central London, passing close to a variety of historic and contemporary sites including Big Ben, the London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Gherkin and crossing Tower Bridge close to City Hall. The race will then travel through Bermondsey, Deptford, Greenwich and Erith before heading out into Kent. In Kent the Tour will pass through Dartford, Gravesend, Medway, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and Ashford before the stage finish in Canterbury.

There are a number of activities being organised to accompany the Tour including the People's Village - an event to celebrate and promote cycling in Hyde Park - and 18 giant screens in the capital so everyone can get a good view of the racing. Plus an additional 11,000 cycle parking spaces for spectators.

The Grand Départ
Saturday 7 July – Tour de France Prologue - a 7.9km individual sprint around central London:

13.00 Tour de France Publicity Caravan sets off ;
14.00 Riders warm up;
15.00 Race Start;
18.20 Race Ends.

Sunday 8 July Tour de France Stage One - A 203 km stage starting on the Mall in central London through South East London into Kent with the finish in Canterbury:

Caravan leaves the Mall at 8.35;
Riders leave the Mall at 10.25.