Vive le Tour! Yorkshire goes bike crazy with more than 1million people lining the streets for the opening stage of the historic race (even William, Kate and Harry couldn't keep away)
- People already lining the streets of Yorkshire for the Grand Depart and opening stage of the Tour de France
- 120 mile route will take the riders from Leeds through the Yorkshire Dales and finish in the spa town of Harrogate
- Competitors will be waved off by Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry at Harewood House
- Kate expected to present the stage winner with the yellow jersey at today's finishing line in Harrogate
- British hopes are resting with Mark Cavendish and last year's Tour de France champion Chris Froome
Daily Mail UK, 5 July 2014
More than one million cycling fans are beginning to line the streets of Yorkshire for the historic opening stage of the Tour de France, which has been officially started by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
For just the second time in history, the race is to start in Britain with the 198 riders lining up in the centre of Leeds for the Grand Depart.
The city centre of Leeds has been packed with spectators for the opening stage seeing the cyclists embark on a 120 mile route through the Yorkshire Dales to the spa town of Harrogate.
Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry arrive at Harewood House near Leeds, for the ceremonial start of the Tour de France
The cyclists earlier left Leeds city centre, where thousands of people had lined the streets to wave off ther riders on the three-week race
They're off: This year's Tour de France competitors leave Leeds city centre for the Grand Depart of the race
Cycling fans clamber on to the steps of Leeds Town Hall marking the start of the Tour de France, known as the Grand Depart
Leeds major shopping street, the Headrow is packed full of spectators ready for the Grand Depart of the Tour de France
Leeds city centre is already filling up with cycling fans ahead of the Grand Depart of the Tour de France at noon
The tour publicity caravan is already making its way through the streets of Leeds, marking the start of the 2014 Tour de France
The race is set to get underway at noon, with the Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Prince Harry waving off the riders at the proper starting line at Harewood House
The Grand Depart of the tour has attracted cycling fans both young and old to cheer on the riders
Spectators arrived in Leeds city centre from early this morning to get a good spot to see the historic Grand Depart of the Tour de France in Yorkshire
It is the first time the race has returned to Britain since 2007, and two stages of the tour will be held in Yorkshire
Competitors will be given a royal send off at Harewood House with both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as well as Prince Harry set to attend the opening race, with Kate expected to present the stage winner with the yellow jersey.
The race, which starts at noon will see the peloton make its way through scores of towns and villages along the route with crowds cheering them on.
Although the Tour starts in the middle of Leeds, the teams do not compete for the first eight miles and the race proper begins in the grounds of Harewood House, where the Red Arrows fly overhead.
The usually quiet North Yorkshire dales are filling up with spectators for the Tour de France. Fans have been gathering in Buttertubs, pictured, which marks the steepest and most dangerous section of today's race
Residents in the town of Skipton have decorated their house in anticipation of welcoming the opening stage of the Tour de France
Some spectators arrived in the village of Reeth in the Yorkshire Dales where the peloton will pass through on their way to Harrogate today
Many of the small towns and villages along the opening stage have been getting in the French spirit ahead of the tour
Spectators in Ilkley turn out for what is being billed as 'the world's greatest cycle race'
The British contingent among the huge crowds expected on the route will be hoping that Mark Cavendish is first across the finish line in Harrogate more than four-and-a-half hours later.
Mr Cavendish's mother lives in the spa town and the ideal end to the day for many of those watching will be him sprinting to victory and securing the yellow jersey.
British hopes are also lying with last year's Tour de France champion Chris Froome, who is defending his title, although 2012 winner Bradley Wiggins will not be competing.
The royal visitors will be at the finish line to welcome the leaders and the peloton.
Residents in villages along the route have hung bunting in the race's signature canary yellow in their towns and villages, and have painted phone boxes to match.
A large banner in the shape of the yellow jersey has been draped over the roof of the historic York Minster cathedral, and the famous race leader's jersey also adorned the statue of the Black Prince in Leeds.
Enthusiastic fans have been eager to cheer on British riders Mark Cavendish and Chris Froome, with his man decked out in a suit of the Union flag
British hopes lie with Mark Cavendish to win this stage of the race as well as last year's overall champion, Chris Froome, with his fans arriving in Leeds for the Grand Depart
At the finishing line in Harrogate Arthen, left and Lilwen Banning show their support with coloured chalk for British rider Mark Cavendish, who is tipped to win the opening race
Up to three million people are expected to watch the Tour's two-day visit to Yorkshire, with the riders passing through Yorkshire again tomorrow on their way from York to Sheffield
Even animals are not immune from cycling fever. Farmers have spray-painted their sheep and alpacas in yellow, green and red polka dots to match the various winners' jerseys.
Enthusiastic fans sporting black and white striped tops, berets, strings of garlic around their necks and bushy moustaches have taken to their bikes in homage to the French - who invented the race 101 years ago.
The red, white and blue flags of France and Great Britain have been draped across the front of shops and pubs as businesses race to embrace the visitors travelling from across the Channel for the start of the Tour.
Weather forecasters say the riders should be blessed with a mostly sunny day with the prospect of an odd shower.
Spectators and residents of Ilkley, west Yorkshire were out early to set up their chairs to make sure they are in prime position for the race passing through
The huge crowds expected on the route will be hoping that Mark Cavendish is first across the finish line
The red, white and blue flags of France and Great Britain have been draped across the front of shops and pubs as businesses race to embrace the visitors travelling from across the Channel
People are also lining up in Harrogate where today's stage will finish, with Mike King, left, with his wife Frances and sons Oliver and James already taking their position
Up to three million people are expected to watch the Tour's two-day visit to Yorkshire.
Tomorrow the riders arrive in York for a stage taking in some of the most challenging climbs in Britain, ending in Sheffield.
And, on Monday, the Tour moves south to Cambridge and a stage ending on The Mall, in central London.
The Tour de France is now in its 101st first year and the 2,277-mile, 21-stage race ends in Paris on 27 July.