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| One million watch Tour de France | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| More than a million people lined the route of the Tour de France as it started in England for the first time in its 104-year history. | |
| Spectators cheered and clapped as the 189 riders crossed Greenwich, south London, and rode out of the city towards Kent. | Spectators cheered and clapped as the 189 riders crossed Greenwich, south London, and rode out of the city towards Kent. |
| The 203km first leg of the race finishes in Canterbury, Kent. | The 203km first leg of the race finishes in Canterbury, Kent. |
| About 4,500 Metropolitan police officers are on duty over the weekend in addition to French police. | About 4,500 Metropolitan police officers are on duty over the weekend in addition to French police. |
| Similar number of spectators flocked to the streets of central London on Saturday to watch the riders take part in the Tour's time trials or Prologue, which was held for the first time in the city. | Similar number of spectators flocked to the streets of central London on Saturday to watch the riders take part in the Tour's time trials or Prologue, which was held for the first time in the city. |
| Fabian Cancellara, of Switzerland, clocked the fastest time while Londoner and Olympic pursuit champion Bradley Wiggins came in fourth. | Fabian Cancellara, of Switzerland, clocked the fastest time while Londoner and Olympic pursuit champion Bradley Wiggins came in fourth. |
| 'Phenomenal success' | 'Phenomenal success' |
| Riders left The Mall in central London at 1030 BST on Sunday pausing briefly at Tower Bridge. | Riders left The Mall in central London at 1030 BST on Sunday pausing briefly at Tower Bridge. |
| The race officially began at 1100 BST as the cyclists rode through Greenwich crossing the meridian line. | The race officially began at 1100 BST as the cyclists rode through Greenwich crossing the meridian line. |
| Mayor Ken Livingstone described the event as a "phenomenal success" and said it had generated more than £115m for the city. | Mayor Ken Livingstone described the event as a "phenomenal success" and said it had generated more than £115m for the city. |
| "Not only has our city successfully hosted the world's biggest annual sporting event, but we have set out a stall for a cycling renaissance in London. | "Not only has our city successfully hosted the world's biggest annual sporting event, but we have set out a stall for a cycling renaissance 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 Continental colour hits streets | 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 Continental colour hits streets |
| "This demonstrates London's ability to host top-class sporting fixtures and promote them to a world-wide audience," he added. | "This demonstrates London's ability to host top-class sporting fixtures and promote them to a world-wide audience," he added. |
| To manage the crowds Metropolitan Police officers were aided by 1,800 officers from Kent along with a team of 45 French officers. | To manage the crowds Metropolitan Police officers were aided by 1,800 officers from Kent along with a team of 45 French officers. |
| Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur said: "We hope people will be good-natured and not disrupt the race." | Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur said: "We hope people will be good-natured and not disrupt the race." |
| Giant screens were also put up in some places along the route. | Giant screens were also put up in some places along the route. |
| Whitehall, Parliament Street and Victoria Embankment, will be closed throughout the weekend while most of the roads along the route will remain closed until 1400 BST. | Whitehall, Parliament Street and Victoria Embankment, will be closed throughout the weekend while most of the roads along the route will remain closed until 1400 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. |