London to put on big Tour de France show

Updated 23.02 Fri Jul 06 2007

Keywords: London, Grand Depart, cycling, Tour de France, sport

London Mayor Ken Livingstone is promising the capital will put on an 'unforgettable' show this weekend for 2007 Tour de France Grand Depart.

After a spectactular opening ceremony in Trafalgar Square, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to line the streets of central London for Saturday's Prologue.

"The Tour de France Grand Depart will be the biggest sporting event hosted by London ahead of the 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games giving a taste of what is to come" - London Mayor Ken Livingstone

The five-mile speed trial before the race proper begins will start on Whitehall and will see 189 riders take in the likes of the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park before finishing on The Mall.

Stage One of the prestigious race will start in central London on Sunday and take riders pass the London Eye, St Paul's Cathedral and cross Tower Bridge, before travelling through south-east London and into Canterbury in Kent.

Mayor Livingstone said: "The Tour de France Grand Depart will be the biggest sporting event hosted by London ahead of the 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games giving a taste of what is to come.

"London is already famous across the world for hosting world-class events. I believe this will be the most spectacular Grand Depart the Tour has ever seen and the weekend will underline London's great sporting reputation."

It will be the first time the Tour de France has set off from England, but the third it has passed through in its 104-year history.