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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fans flock to Tour de France race | Fans flock to Tour de France race |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| At least 500,000 cycling fans have flocked to central London to watch the start of the Tour de France race. | At least 500,000 cycling fans have flocked to central London to watch the start of the Tour de France race. |
| More than 180 competitors will ride the 7.9km time trial prologue from Whitehall to The Mall, taking in landmarks such as Buckingham Palace. | More than 180 competitors will ride the 7.9km time trial prologue from Whitehall to The Mall, taking in landmarks such as Buckingham Palace. |
| About 4,500 police officers guarded the London leg of the race with assistance from a team of 45 French officers. | About 4,500 police officers guarded the London leg of the race with assistance from a team of 45 French officers. |
| Security has been heightened after last week's attempted car bombs in London and Glasgow. | Security has been heightened after last week's attempted car bombs in London and Glasgow. |
| The trials started at 1500 BST and will end just after 1800 BST. | The trials started at 1500 BST and will end just after 1800 BST. |
| This is the first time the speed trials, also known as the Grand Depart, has been held in London. | This is the first time the speed trials, also known as the Grand Depart, has been held in London. |
| Road Closures WhitehallParliament StreetParliament SquareMillbank up to Lambeth BridgeBroad SanctuaryVictoria StreetBuckingham GateSpur RoadConstitution HillHyde Park CornerGrosvenor Place north of Hobart Place Park Lane south of Curzon Gate | Road Closures WhitehallParliament StreetParliament SquareMillbank up to Lambeth BridgeBroad SanctuaryVictoria StreetBuckingham GateSpur RoadConstitution HillHyde Park CornerGrosvenor Place north of Hobart Place Park Lane south of Curzon Gate |
| Police Superintendent Ian Chappell said "We have reviewed our measures to make sure they are appropriate and respectful of the Tour de France's tradition as an open event, a free event." | Police Superintendent Ian Chappell said "We have reviewed our measures to make sure they are appropriate and respectful of the Tour de France's tradition as an open event, a free event." |
| Hyde Park has been transformed into a village with a giant screen and numerous food stalls. | |
| Eighteen other giant screens have also been put up along the route. | Eighteen other giant screens have also been put up along the route. |
| Starting at Whitehall, cyclists will speed along Parliament Square, Victoria Street, Buckingham Gate and Constitution Hill before finishing at The Mall. | Starting at Whitehall, cyclists will speed along Parliament Square, Victoria Street, Buckingham Gate and Constitution Hill before finishing at The Mall. |
| Whitehall, Parliament Street and Victoria Embankment, will be closed throughout the weekend while most of the roads along the route will remain closed from 0700 BST until 2100 BST. | Whitehall, Parliament Street and Victoria Embankment, will be closed throughout the weekend while most of the roads along the route will remain closed from 0700 BST until 2100 BST. |
| Other roads which will be closed are: Kensington Road (east of the Royal Albert Hall), South Carriage Drive, West Carriage Drive, Serpentine Road, Pall Mall, Pall Mall East, Haymarket south of Charles II Street, Cockspur Street, Strand, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross Road south of Cambridge Circus and Northumberland Avenue. | Other roads which will be closed are: Kensington Road (east of the Royal Albert Hall), South Carriage Drive, West Carriage Drive, Serpentine Road, Pall Mall, Pall Mall East, Haymarket south of Charles II Street, Cockspur Street, Strand, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross Road south of Cambridge Circus and Northumberland Avenue. |
| Transport for London have put in 11,000 bike parking spaces mainly in Hyde Park, Green Park, Millbank and near the Albert Memorial. | Transport for London have put in 11,000 bike parking spaces mainly in Hyde Park, Green Park, Millbank and near the Albert Memorial. |