Crowds are gathering in Leeds for the start of the 101st Tour de France as Yorkshire hosts the first two stages of the world's greatest bike race.
Two million people are expected to line the route this weekend as they watch top cyclists in action.
Some 198 riders in 22 teams were to line up in the Grand Depart, as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry were expected to be among the spectators cheering them on.
Scores of towns and villages along the 190km opening stage are expected to be packed as the peloton makes its way through the Yorkshire Dales to the finish in Harrogate.
Although the Tour starts in the middle of Leeds, the teams do not compete for the first eight miles.
The race proper begins in the grounds of Harewood House where the royals will send the riders on their way.
Organisers hope the Duchess will present the coveted yellow jersey to the stage winner in Harrogate this afternoon, with British sprinter Mark Cavendish tipped as the possible recipient in his mother's home town.
On Sunday, the riders arrive in York for a 201km 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 155km stage ending on The Mall, in central London.
There has been some rain in Yorkshire today but the forecast is for fair weather later.
Fears that the narrow roads and stone walls in the Yorkshire Dales National Park will be too dangerous for the world's fastest cyclists have been dismissed by five-times Tour de France winner Bernard Hinault.
He told Sky News the challenges that Yorkshire poses are just part of the race.
"It's for the riders to adapt to the route, not for the route to adapt to the riders," he said.
Local businesses have been warned to expect up to 700 cars per hour trying to get into what are usually relatively isolated villages, with road closures for the race causing added problems.
Tens of thousands of tents and caravans will be squeezed into fields where sheep and cattle usually graze after officials relaxed the area's strict planning regulations for the weekend.
Swaledale farmer Mike Barker has created a car park for 5,000 cars, but thinks he's more likely to get a few hundred at £10 each.
He's already spent £500 on toilet hire and extra insurance but said he is confident he'll get his money back.
The Welcome to Yorkshire tourism agency predicts the event, which is watched by billions of TV viewers around the world, will bring £100m into Yorkshire's economy.
The race ends in Paris on July 27.
All eyes will be on Britain's Chris Froome to see if he can take the title for Team Sky for the second successive year.
It would mark a third straight British win, after Bradley Wiggins rode to victory in 2012.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/tour-france-fever-takes-hold-yorkshire-232947508.html
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar