I was very excited to learn about the route of Le Tour when it arrives in 2007 for Le Grand Départ.
The prologue takes place on Saturday 6 July 2007, and is a 7.9km time trial starting in Whitehall just down from Trafalgar Square, running through Parliament Square (think pictures of cyclists with Big Ben in the background), towards Buckingham Palace via Victoria, up Constitution Hill and taking in a loop around Hyde Park before doubling back on itself and finishing in The Mall.
The next day, the first stage proper, it starts again in The Mall, before heading over Westminster Bridge, running down the South Bank, crossing the river again, passing through the City, then going over Tower Bridge before heading out into Kent. The finish is in Canterbury, but the route takes it possibly right past the front of my brother’s house, and certainly through his village (the full details of the exact roads aren’t yet available). Kent’s pretty flat, but there are a couple of “hills” of fourth and fifth categories.
I can’t wait.
There’s a flythrough of the stage here. The question is, do I volunteer? Or do I just experience it all and take photos etc?