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I was just down from Buckingham Palace along the Mall and filmed the leading riders as they went by in the final sprint to the finish, the speed they go is unbelievable if you blink you miss them..

All very good but what on earth is the Tour de France doing in Angleterre? They'll be wanting the Boat Race on the Seine next...

Perhaps to broaden its appeal? And its only the opening stages of a long Tour that are held outside France, so it remains essentially a French event.

Then again perhaps not ? how many of the million or so who apparently turned out will watch the rest on telly? Not that many, I'd wager...

It is a bit silly, but they came through my home city and a lot of people went out to see an event they may never see again.

I didn't go as I was busy but wish I had.

I saw it the last time it was here in 2007 so i knew it would all be over with in a few seconds but still worth watching, a lot of people i spoke to had travelled to London especially to see it and stayed overnight so it does generate a lot of money, they say it draws much bigger crowds here in the UK than on the continent as they see it every year.

Maybe we should have a tour of Britain with just female riders that should draw the crowds !wink!

Cycling and rowing at the highest levels I find awesome to watch ... particularly live ... the effect it has on me (personally) is completely different from watching it on telly. I always get a 'Wow!' factor watching these two sports.
I know that having part of the Tour De France in England doesn't sound right .... but I don't think too many people will be complaining ..... I would imagine it was a fabulous experience for those who turned up.

"Maybe we should have a tour of Britain with just female riders that should draw the crowds"

They'd have to be naked though.

That was exactly my thought but didn't post it for fear of being labelled sexist...

Well there are plenty of gorgeous girls on the naked bike ride like these babes taking refreshments in Starbucks