- Title: UK: Spectators gather for London start of the Tour de France cycle race
- Date: 7th July 2007
- Summary: SWEETS / FREE GIFTS BEING DISTRIBUTED TO SPECTATORS (SOUNDBITE)(English) 'JOHN' FROM LANCASHIRE, ENGLAND, SAYING: "I am hoping for a good race. I hope (Bradley) Wiggins do a good turn today so hopefully it would a good race, yeah" (ASKED ABOUT FAVOURITE FOR THE PROLOGUE, HE REPLIES:) "It is got to be Bradley being a local lad from up near where I live so... I came down
- Embargoed: 22nd July 2007 13:00
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- Topics: Sports,Travel / Tourism
- Reuters ID: LVA8JZB521S68TCSQAZX1IKZSWAC
- Story Text: Spectators line up along the route for 'Le Grand Depart' as the Tour de France starts for the first time from London in 104 years of the biggest cycling race in the world.
Cars were giving way to bicycles on Saturday (July 7) ahead of the prologue of the Tour de France which is taking place in the heart of London.
Two years to the day after 52 people were killed in attacks on three underground trains and a bus, 5,000 police officers will be deployed along the course.
Security has been stepped up since two car bombs were found in central London on June 29 and members of a suspected al-Qaeda cell attacked Glasgow airport in Scotland on June 30.
The prologue starts at Trafalgar Square and passes Buckingham Palace, Westminster and Hyde Park before finishing in The Mall.
Teams were fine tuning their bikes as spectators gathered along the 7.9 kilometre route. The prologue starts at 1400gmt (1500 local time) and Britons David Millar and Bradley Wiggins are among the riders to watch.
Millar, a winner of the Tour prologue in 2000, will bank on experience in his bid to grab the yellow jersey.
One fan, John, came all the way from Lancashire in northern England to support Wiggins, who won the prestigious Dauphine Libere opening time trial in June.
"I am hoping for a good race. I hope (Bradley) Wiggins do a good turn today so hopefully it would a good race, yeah."
Asked who was the favourite, he added: "It is got to be Bradley being a local lad from up near where I live so... I came down yesterday so hopefully he will do his part since it is his first start."
With 2006 winner Floyd Landis of the United States and other top riders involved in doping allegations, this year's race starts without the defending champion, opening the route for others.
Liz, from Tasmania, was routing for her native Australians, Cadel Evans, the 30 year-old leader of the Predictor-Lotto team and sprinter Robbie McEwen, still a strong contender at the age of 34.
"Cadel Evans has come in the ranking in of the last couple of years, I reckon up to number three spot this year, it should be good. And Robbie McEwen is getting on in years but he is a tryer and he works hard, yeah," she said.
Other favourites for the prologue are time trial world champion Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland and American David Zabriskie. The winner will get the yellow jersey for the first stage from London to Canterbury on Sunday (July 8). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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