London Le Grand Depart 2007

Last weekend London was lucky enough to host the Prologue and Stage One of the Tour De France - the first time it has ever started in the UK in its history (104 years!) so I figured I'd better take advantage of it. I took lots of photos and videos over the weekend but here are a few of my favourite. There was a great vibe all around London with lots of Londoners and visitors out on the streets http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_France

The Opening Ceremony on Friday night saw Trafalgar Square completely packed out. They introduced all the teams and all the riders and had a free concert afterwards : )

After watching the Aussies beat the Saffas at the Walkabout on Saturday morning, we headed down to town to check out all the hype before the Prologue began that afternoon

St James's Park

Everyone came out to watch (and capture their memories on film!) . We even saw Didi Senft (the Tour de France Devil) watching the race from a prime spot outside Buckingham Palace

In the Prologue Riders had an amazing route through town, past buckingham palace and down the Mall

Crowds watched the prologue on the big screen in Parliament Square and lined the route to get the best view

On Sunday I was up pretty early to get a good spot to see the riders at the Start of Stage One. The official start was at Greenwich but I managed to see them all cycle through town past the Guerkin and head off over Tower Bridge!

And what major sporting event could take place without loads of advertising and freebies that you don't need from T-Mobile in bright pink - blow-up hands, hats, t-shirts and flags!

After all the riders cycled past the crowd dispersed but there was still heaps of cycling related things going on around town, in St Paul's Courtyard you could try out some "interesting" bikes and there were a few mountain bikers doing stunts including a one-metre bunny-hop!!

Headed out to Hyde Park on Sunday afternoon (can you believe I've never been there and Ive lived in London for en months now - totally kicking myself about that one!) But it was the perfect day for it (especially considering the awful weather we've had so far this summer) and I even managed to pick up a nice little tan - woohoo!

Whether you decided to get your photo taken with Lance Armstrong or just chill watching the rest of Stage One on the big screen it was a beautiful afternoon in the park - amazing finish, great atmosphere with Millar winning King of the Mountains and Robbie McEwan taking out the stage in an amazing finish! http://www.tourdefrancelondon.com/en/308.asp

There was a youth cyslists race around the Serpentine and through Hyde Park

As well as displays of old, weird and wonderful alternatives to your normal bicycle

A leg of the Handcyclists World Cup also took place in Hyde Park that afternoon

It was an amazing weekend with everything cycling in the capital drawing everyone out of their houses to enjoy the sunshine, what a great way to welcome in July - hopefully the sun stays out : )