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)

ore than one million cycling fans are lining 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 started in Britain with the 198 riders lining up in the centre of Leeds for the Grand Depart.

The city was packed with spectators for the opening stage, which sees the cyclists embark on a 120 mile route through the Yorkshire Dales to the spa town of Harrogate.

Prince William, Kate and Harry were at the starting line at Harewood House in Leeds to officially start this year's Tour de France

The Duchess of Cambridge was given the honour of cutting the ribbon, which symbolises that the Tour de France is officially underway

Kate looks delighted as she officially declares that the 101st Tour de France is underway as she cuts the ceremonial ribbon, helped by Prince William and Prince Harry

The royals will also be in Harrogate later today at the end of the first stage to meet the competitors, and the Duchess is expected to present the winner with the yellow jersey

Kate and Williams shook hands with the lead Tour de France competitors ahead of the race beginning at Harewood House in Leeds 

Competitors were given the royal send off at Harewood House, near Leeds where both Kate, William and Harry gathered with the Duchess of Cambridge, dressed in a bottle green coat with grey clutch bag, being given the honour of cutting the ribbon.

She is also expected to present the stage winner with the yellow jersey later this afternoon when the first stage ends at around 4.30pm.

Before the race began, the cyclists took off their helmets and were greeted with a rendition of both the French and British national anthems, performed by the Band of the Corps of the Royal Engineers.

Along with the Duke and Prince Harry, she chatted with the lead riders, including reigning Tour champion Chris Froome.

Loud cheers also erupted from the crowd as the RAF's Red Arrows performed a flyover that left a trail of red, white and blue vapour - the national colours of France and the UK.

The race will see the peloton make its way through scores of towns and villages along the route with crowds cheering them on.

Although the Tour started in the middle of Leeds, the teams do not compete for the first eight miles and the race properly began in the grounds of Harewood House, with the Red Arrows also flying overhead.

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 Sir Bradley Wiggins will not be competing.

The spa town of Harrogate is already filling up with spectators, where the first stage will end later this afternoon. The winner will receive the first yellow jersey of the competition

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

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.

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.

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.