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.
