The Tour de France Comes to London.....
It has been confirmed for the 2007 Grand Depart of the Tour de France in London. The historic race attracts the world's best cyclists and spectators will flock to watch the action! In 2007 London will host the opening stage of the Tour de France, the world's biggest annual sporting event and the biggest cycling event in the world, with a spectatorship of about 15 million people.
This Landmark London Event will be special and the route will pass by many of London's top attractions and iconic landmarks. This will be the first time that the Tour has come to London and Ken Livingstone, London's Mayor expects it to bring in substantial tourism revenue as well as boosting the image of cycling saying, 'Hosting the first stage of the legendary French cycle race will raise the profile of cycling in the capital, attract visitors and promote the capital as a venue for international sporting events.'
The biggest annual sporting event in the world, the Tour de France, will start in London in 2007, coming to the UK capital for the first time in its 100 year history. The Grand Depart, the start of the Tour, will take place in London and Kent over three days during the weekend of 6-8 July 2007. It is expected to attract more than a million visitors to the capital, providing a significant economic benefit for London.
The Tour de France creates a carnival atmosphere wherever it visits, with more than 10 million spectators lining the route each year over the three weeks of the event. The peleton racing through the UK capital's historic streets promises to provide a compelling spectacle for families, cyclists, and sports fans.
Opening Ceremony - Friday 6 July
Vibrant celebrations will take place in Trafalgar Square to welcome the Tour de France to London. Around 200 of the world's best cyclists will battle it out for the legendary yellow jersey on the streets of London. They will then go on to cover around 3,500 kilometres over the course of three weeks.
The Prologue Time Trial - Saturday 7 July
The time trial route passes well known sights such as the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. Riders with race along famous London thoroughfares such as Whitehall and The Mall and through the beautiful Hyde Park. On Saturday 7 July - an eight kilometre (5 mile) lap of central London, starting on Whitehall, taking in some of London's most famous landmarks including the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park, and finishing on the Mall
Stage 1 (London to Canterbury) - Sunday 8 July
Stage 1 of the race will take a route past the British Airways London Eye, St Paul's Cathedral and City Hall. on Sunday 8 July, which 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 travelling into Kent. In Kent the Tour will pass through Dartford, Medway, Tunbridge Wells and Ashford before the stage finish in Canterbury. It will cross three of London's bridges, before the riders head out of the city through Bermondsey, Deptford, Greenwich, Charlton, Woolwich and Plumstead on the way to Kent.
And one of the best things about this London event is that it is free
Experience London
Come along and join in the excitement of the Tour de France and take the chance to sample some of London's many other delights. Spend some time exploring London's attractions or take a trip to the theatre. You can also enjoy some of the best food and shopping in the world.
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