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| Le Tour gets royal send-off in Yorkshire | Le Tour gets royal send-off in Yorkshire |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The 101st Tour de France is under way in Yorkshire after riders received a royal send-off from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. | The 101st Tour de France is under way in Yorkshire after riders received a royal send-off from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. |
| The race officially started at 12:00 BST at Harewood House, after the 198 riders rode from Leeds Town Hall, and is due to finish in Harrogate at 16:30. | The race officially started at 12:00 BST at Harewood House, after the 198 riders rode from Leeds Town Hall, and is due to finish in Harrogate at 16:30. |
| Thousands gathered in Leeds for the ceremonial start with up to two million spectators expected across the county. | Thousands gathered in Leeds for the ceremonial start with up to two million spectators expected across the county. |
| Fans, however, are being warned to expect long waits for public transport. | Fans, however, are being warned to expect long waits for public transport. |
| Meanwhile, North Yorkshire Police say a woman suffered head injuries after falling through a roof in Skipton near to the Tour route. | |
| A teenage boy has also been injured in Ilkley after being struck by a team vehicle in the Tour convoy. West Yorkshire police said he had been airlifted to hospital to receive treatment for leg injuries. | |
| The royal party met the riders at Harewood House where they were also greeted by a Red Arrows fly-past ahead of the 190km (118-mile) first stage. | The royal party met the riders at Harewood House where they were also greeted by a Red Arrows fly-past ahead of the 190km (118-mile) first stage. |
| George Hughes, who joined the crowds outside the Town Hall together with his wife and children, said: "It's tremendous. It's going to be fantastic for Leeds and Yorkshire. It's just amazing. I hope it will come back again. It's something to remember for the rest of our lives." | George Hughes, who joined the crowds outside the Town Hall together with his wife and children, said: "It's tremendous. It's going to be fantastic for Leeds and Yorkshire. It's just amazing. I hope it will come back again. It's something to remember for the rest of our lives." |
| One spectator, Susie, who was at Harewood House, said: "It's really fantastic. It's been so exciting. We got a really good spot, saw the royals land and saw the cyclists go past. It's been fabulous." | One spectator, Susie, who was at Harewood House, said: "It's really fantastic. It's been so exciting. We got a really good spot, saw the royals land and saw the cyclists go past. It's been fabulous." |
| Her daughter Milly said: "I enjoyed seeing Prince William and Princess Kate land in the helicopter. The Red Arrows were really good too. It was really cool." | Her daughter Milly said: "I enjoyed seeing Prince William and Princess Kate land in the helicopter. The Red Arrows were really good too. It was really cool." |
| Le Tour Yorks Travel is warning people to expect waits of up to three hours for trains between Leeds and Harrogate. | Le Tour Yorks Travel is warning people to expect waits of up to three hours for trains between Leeds and Harrogate. |
| Meanwhile, the BBC's North of England correspondent Danny Savage, has reported "major overcrowding" on trains from York to Harrogate and said busses were "full from Knaresborough onwards". | Meanwhile, the BBC's North of England correspondent Danny Savage, has reported "major overcrowding" on trains from York to Harrogate and said busses were "full from Knaresborough onwards". |
| Northern Rail announced on Wednesday it was increasing its capacity by 50% during the Tour while other train operators have also put on extra services. | Northern Rail announced on Wednesday it was increasing its capacity by 50% during the Tour while other train operators have also put on extra services. |
| A spokeswoman for Northern Rail: "Everything we have got is out there. We are running extra trains, we are running longer trains and we have hired extra trains. | |
| "We are operating as much as we can." | |
| She said the bulk of the queues eased by around 14:00 | |
| Transdev Harrogate said they were using "every spare bus we have including school buses" on the route between Knaresborough and Harrogate. | Transdev Harrogate said they were using "every spare bus we have including school buses" on the route between Knaresborough and Harrogate. |
| News of transport difficulties come despite months of planning and preparation being put into making sure the event got off to a good start. | News of transport difficulties come despite months of planning and preparation being put into making sure the event got off to a good start. |
| The 21-stage, 3,664km (2,277-mile) race started in Leeds with the second stage running from York to Sheffield and the third from Cambridge to London, before 18 more stages culminate in the French capital on 27 July. | The 21-stage, 3,664km (2,277-mile) race started in Leeds with the second stage running from York to Sheffield and the third from Cambridge to London, before 18 more stages culminate in the French capital on 27 July. |
| It is the fourth time the Tour has crossed La Manche (The English Channel). | It is the fourth time the Tour has crossed La Manche (The English Channel). |
| In 1974 and 1994 it included stages in Britain and in 2007 London hosted the start, known as the Grand Depart. | In 1974 and 1994 it included stages in Britain and in 2007 London hosted the start, known as the Grand Depart. |
| Four of the 198 riders are British, with Mark Cavendish and Chris Froome, who are two of the main contenders, joined by Geraint Thomas and Simon Yates. | Four of the 198 riders are British, with Mark Cavendish and Chris Froome, who are two of the main contenders, joined by Geraint Thomas and Simon Yates. |
| Mark Cavendish, whose mother Adele is from Harrogate, has attempted to play down his focus on taking the race leader's yellow jersey in the town for the first time in his career, but there is no doubt it is a major goal. | Mark Cavendish, whose mother Adele is from Harrogate, has attempted to play down his focus on taking the race leader's yellow jersey in the town for the first time in his career, but there is no doubt it is a major goal. |
| Relative to the mountain stages the riders will face in France, the opening stage has been described as flat, but it is up and down all day and the sprinters could face challenging conditions if showers slicken the twisting roads in the Dales. | Relative to the mountain stages the riders will face in France, the opening stage has been described as flat, but it is up and down all day and the sprinters could face challenging conditions if showers slicken the twisting roads in the Dales. |
| The race's first categorised climb, the Cote de Cray - the ascents have been given French prefixes - comes 68km (42 miles) into the day's racing and the Cote de Buttertubs and Cote de Grinton Moor follow, with the summit of the latter 61km (40 miles) from the finish line. | The race's first categorised climb, the Cote de Cray - the ascents have been given French prefixes - comes 68km (42 miles) into the day's racing and the Cote de Buttertubs and Cote de Grinton Moor follow, with the summit of the latter 61km (40 miles) from the finish line. |
| Are you in Yorkshire? Are you watching the Tour de France in Yorkshire? Please share your experiences with us. You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Tour de France'. | Are you in Yorkshire? Are you watching the Tour de France in Yorkshire? Please share your experiences 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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