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| Tour de France fever cranks up in Yorkshire | Tour de France fever cranks up in Yorkshire |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Final preparations for the 2014 Tour de France are under way as Yorkshire gears up for the start of the race. | Final preparations for the 2014 Tour de France are under way as Yorkshire gears up for the start of the race. |
| Up to two million fans are expected on the streets this weekend, with royalty, politicians and celebrities throwing their support behind le Grand Depart. | Up to two million fans are expected on the streets this weekend, with royalty, politicians and celebrities throwing their support behind le Grand Depart. |
| British cycling coach Dave Brailsford said the UK had become a "cycling nation" ahead of the race, which begins in Leeds on Saturday. | British cycling coach Dave Brailsford said the UK had become a "cycling nation" ahead of the race, which begins in Leeds on Saturday. |
| The 21-stage race finishes in Paris on 27 July. | The 21-stage race finishes in Paris on 27 July. |
| Arriving in Yorkshire ahead of the event, Prime Minister David Cameron, said: "It's tremendously exciting that we're hosting the start of the Tour de France here in Yorkshire. | |
| "It's a brilliant advertisement for Britain and for Yorkshire." | |
| Mr Cameron added: "3.5 billion people worldwide will be watching this and I believe that, once again, Britain will show that we're brilliant at hosting sporting events and we've got great sportsmen and women to take part in them." | |
| The first stage of the Tour de France begins in the centre of Leeds on Saturday. | The first stage of the Tour de France begins in the centre of Leeds on Saturday. |
| The 198 riders from 22 teams will coast to nearby Harewood House where the race proper - through the Yorkshire Dales to Harrogate - will be started by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. | The 198 riders from 22 teams will coast to nearby Harewood House where the race proper - through the Yorkshire Dales to Harrogate - will be started by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. |
| The second stage of the race will run from York to Sheffield on Sunday. | |
| A third stage, from Cambridge to London, will take place on Monday. | A third stage, from Cambridge to London, will take place on Monday. |
| The first stage of the race is expected to be run in a mix of sunshine and showers, though forecasters are predicting heavy rain and even lightning on Sunday. | The first stage of the race is expected to be run in a mix of sunshine and showers, though forecasters are predicting heavy rain and even lightning on Sunday. |
| In Harrogate, a local sweet shop has created a 24lb lemon coconut ice aimed at spurring on adopted local hero Mark Cavendish, whose mother lives in the town. | In Harrogate, a local sweet shop has created a 24lb lemon coconut ice aimed at spurring on adopted local hero Mark Cavendish, whose mother lives in the town. |
| Not to be outdone, a butcher's in Ripon has produced a bike made entirely of pork products, which features "pork pies for wheels, belly pork for brakes and a chipolata bike chain". | Not to be outdone, a butcher's in Ripon has produced a bike made entirely of pork products, which features "pork pies for wheels, belly pork for brakes and a chipolata bike chain". |
| Sir Rodney Walker, chairman of TdFHUB2014 Ltd, the government-created company overseeing the plans for the race, said the logistical preparations for the tour were now all in place. | Sir Rodney Walker, chairman of TdFHUB2014 Ltd, the government-created company overseeing the plans for the race, said the logistical preparations for the tour were now all in place. |
| Sir Rodney said: "All of the final pre-event plans are now being put into action, so I'm delighted to be able to say we are ready to deliver a historic spectacle for huge audiences at the roadside and those watching around the world to enjoy." | Sir Rodney said: "All of the final pre-event plans are now being put into action, so I'm delighted to be able to say we are ready to deliver a historic spectacle for huge audiences at the roadside and those watching around the world to enjoy." |
| Are you in Yorkshire? Will you be the marking the Tour de France coming to Yorkshire? Please share your comments with us. You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Tour de France'. | Are you in Yorkshire? Will you be the marking the Tour de France coming to Yorkshire? Please share your comments with us. You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Tour de France'. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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