The Tour de France is the single most well-known cycling event in the world. However, contrary to what its name implies, the entire race does not always take place in France. Each race usually has some part of the course crossing into neighboring countries. Every four years or so the beginning of the Tour de France, more commonly known as the Grand Depart, takes place in a country other than France. In 2007, it will be the 2007 Tour de France London style! This won’t be the first time the race has ventured onto British territory, but it will be the first time that the race will actually start in London. The people of London tried hard to get the 2006 Tour de France to begin in their city, but that didn’t happen. However, they appear to be pleased as punch that they’ll get the 2007 Tour de France London start they had hoped for.
The city of London lobbied hard for the 2006 race and fortunately those efforts weren’t wasted. Their presentation was impressive enough to land the 2007 Tour de France London start. The notoriety and fanfare is coming with a price tag though. The initial bid from the city stands at $2.68 million and the city will need at least an additional $7 million to beef up security and transportation. Considering the amount of tourists the race brings, the city will easily recoup all of that and much more.
London is not only in it for the money though. The Mayor of London has long been an advocate of cycling as a form of exercise and environmentally friendly transportation and he is hoping that the excitement of having the race and all the surrounding festivities begin in London will wear off on the city. The Tour de France start also serves as a stepping-stone to organizing the 2012 Olympics which will be held in London.
The 2007 Tour de France London will be host to the first two stages of the race: the prologue day and the actual start. The tour will follow a route ripe with history. The 5-mile prologue will take racers past Trafalgar Square as well as the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. From there it will continue through the Hyde Park area and will end in front of Buckingham Palace on The Mall. Not only will this be exciting for the racers but for the spectators as well.
The first stage of the actual 2007 Tour de France London race will begin at The Mall, will be 130 miles in length, and will include three bonus sprints and three mountain climbs. This stage of the tour will be equally historical in nature, passing by St. Paul‘s Cathedral and the Tower of London. Riders will then cross over the Tower Bridge, pass through Greenwich and travel on to Canterbury. After this stage of the race, the racers will be transported from England to France on their day of rest.
For British citizens, it’s not just the excitement of having the 2007 Tour de France London start of the race. It’s also the fact that they feel they have a very strong team participating that’s making this even sweeter. The opportunity to have their favorite racers cycle along the streets of London on their home turf is a dream come true for the racers as well as their fans. The 2007 Tour de France London start of the race will be an experience of a lifetime and, if you can swing it, now is the time to start making plans for a memorable trip to jolly ole’ England!
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